A CYCLE ride which raises thousands for local charities is gearing up to mark its 21st anniversary this spring.

Stokesley Charity Bike Ride has become a well-supported feature in the town’s calendar of events and this year will be taking place on Sunday, May 13.

This 30-mile circular ride will be raising money for Save our Strays, a small, independent charity based near Markse-by-the-Sea in Redcar.

The charity primarily takes unwanted dogs from local dog pounds and cares for them and also deals with referrals from police or social services where the owner has died or suffered illness.

Since it was set up by a group of volunteers ten years ago it has now rehomed 1,400 dogs in the region.

Race organiser Paul Mackintosh, from Darlington, said: “There are about six volunteers at the charity and they do everything themselves.

"It costs £30,000 a year to look after the dogs and pay for their medical needs and feed them.

"After visiting the charity with my son it was a no-brainer for me. The aim of the event is to support local charities.”

Last year’s charity bike ride raised £7,600 for the Make A Wish Foundation.

The charity was chosen by race volunteer Kevin Ideson, after his son, then aged four, was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He is now in remission, but during treatment, the Make a Wish Foundation contacted Jack’s family and sent them on a trip of a lifetime to Disneyland Paris.

In 2016 the race raised £10,000 for Bloodwise in memory of the mother of one of the race's cyclists, Jez Glennon.

During the 2015 race he had cycled past his mother’s home in Stokesley to find an ambulance outside. She had tragically died on the day of the race – her birthday – due to complications caused by leukaemia.

The 30-mile circular race will begin from Stokesley Town Hall in the High Street at 10am. There will be basic mechanical support, a back-up vehicle and first aid facilities for the riders, along with refreshments along the route. There will be parking on The Plain.

The route will take cyclists along the River Leven to Great Ayton, up Clay Bank and through villages including Faceby and Hutton Rudby.

The entry fee is £10, or £12 on the day, and free for under-16s. All proceeds will go directly to the charity.

The race will be sponsored by RPS Maltby.

To download a ride information pack and entry form, visit; stokesleycharityride.org.uk

For more information on its chosen charity, visit; saveourstrays.org.uk