Ride Cymru Knievels back for 2024, taking 50 fancy dressed fundraisers on 2000 mile adventure

The annual Ride Cymru Knievels charity run is returning for 2024, with racing legend Niall Mackenzie and Stereophonics band member Richard Jones joining 50 fancy dressed riders for a 2000-mile fund raising adventure.

Founded in 2015, the ride has supported a number of charities over the years, with the 2024 run favouring The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) for the second year in succession. Since its inception, the group have raised in excess of £230,000 for good causes.

The rides also pay tribute to the late legendary stunt man Evel Knievel, with all of the riders wearing his iconic blue, white, and red overall design. This year’s run will kick off on Friday, May 24 and go from John O’Groats to Land’s End without the use of a single motorway.

On the day before the start of the ride, fundraisers meet in Ullapool and ride through to Thurso – taking in a section of the picturesque North Coast 500.

“We look for something which can be challenging to ride and has to fit in within a five-day window,” event Chair and Organiser Jason Lewis told MCN. “This route is a significant challenge for most riders, and you’ve also got to take into consideration getting to the start and getting back home at the end.”

Taking place over three days, sat navs are banned – with stops planned in Perth, Carlisle, Liverpool. A quick stop will also be made in Wrexham, Wales to incorporate all three mainland countries, with a night of partying planned in Penzance, Cornwall at the end.

“The reason we’ve chosen the NSPCC again is because all the Knievels found the charity to be very appreciative of the efforts they’d put in,” Lewis continued. “We set a target of £20,000 last year, purely because of the cost of living crisis, and we raised over £30,000 in the end – from which we won an NSPCC Esther award.”

In order to take part, riders must raise sponsorship, with this year’s online JustGiving page already sitting at £13,414 at the time of writing before turning a wheel. Search ‘capes24’ on justgiving.com for more.