Jo Hammond, CEO at local charity Cotswold Friends, is embarking on an epic 450km Cycle Challenge, visiting over 100 Cotswold villages along the way, and aiming to raise awareness and funds for the charity. Cotswold ‘Tour de Friends’ starts from Moreton in Marsh, where the charity is based, on Friday 1st September and encompasses 14 cycle rides over a 7-week period. The challenge will culminate with an 80km South to North Finale from Ashton Keynes to Mickleton, on Friday 20th October.

Cotswold Friends is a local charity offering services to older and vulnerable people, working to alleviate loneliness and isolation, improve health and wellbeing and support independent living. Helping over 2,300 people and with an incredible team of 340+ volunteers, charity services include Community Transport, Community Activities, Befriending and Carer Support, helping to keep people connected to their community.

Jo says, “The aim of my challenge is to raise awareness of the challenges older and vulnerable people face every day, living in our highly rural communities. Cotswold Friends helps clients from over 120 towns and villages in the North and South Cotswolds. I wanted to meet more of our clients, volunteers and funders and visit our Community Activity venues – hopefully raising funds to help us keep delivering our community services. I’m a bit daunted by the hilly Cotswold terrain, and there is over 6000m of climbing in total, so you might see me walking from time to time up the really steep bits!”

You can follow Jo’s Journey on our Instagram page or our Tiktok Page

Instagram

Tiktok

Here are where and when Jo will be passing through your area,

Moreton Loop Friday 1st September 9.30am - Tales from Jo

Bibury Loop Tuesday 5th September 9.30am - 12.00pm

Chedworth Loop Fri 8th September 12.30pm - 3.30pm

Bourton Loop Wednesday 13th September 1pm - 4pm

Temple Guiting Loop Friday 15th September 1pm - 3.30pm

Northleach Loop Thursday 21st September 2.30pm

Willersey Loop Friday 22nd September 1.30pm

Stow Loop Wednesday 27th September 1pm

Aldsworth Loop Thursday 28th September 1pm

Guiting Power Loop Tuesday 3rd October 9.30am

Moreton North Loop Wednesday 4th October 10am

Andoversford Loop Tuesday 10th October 1pm

South Cirencester Loop Friday 13th October 9.30am (Cirencester, Siddington, South Cerney, Ashton Keynes, Ewen, Kemble)

Mickleton Friday 20th October 8am (Ashton Keynes, South Cerney, Siddington, Cirencester, Chedworth, Withington, Andoversford, Hawling, Guiting Power, Condicote, Longborough, Bourton on the Hill, Moreton in Marsh, Batsford, Aston Magna, Paxford, Chipping Campden, Aston Sub Edge, Mickleton)

Can you help Cotswold Friends reach their fundraising target of £5,000? Go to Cotswold ‘tour de friends’ Cycle Challenge - JustGiving if you could make a donation to the ‘Tour de Friends’ campaign.

https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/tourdefriends

Thank you.