Organisers of the Action 100 Bike Ride are celebrating a record breaking number of applications for this year’s fundraising cycle for Action Medical Research. Riders are signing up at such a rate that the charity has 100 more cyclists than at this stage of its campaign last summer. The organisers are still appealing for 600 more riders to register between now and August in order to meet the Silver Jubilee target they have set themselves.

The flagship 100 mile ride from Bristol and Bath to London is the biggest event the charity (Action Medical Research) co-ordinates. Its Silver Jubilee ride – 100 miles from Bath and Bristol to London - takes place on August 27, 2006 .

Jennifer Reid, Regional Fundraising Manager, believes the Internet has played a crucial part in the ride’s success with registrations to date: “The web is really convenient in that it allows people to sign up online, in their own time, rather than sit on their application forms, but we are hoping that these are extra, rather than early, applications.” (www.action100ride.org.uk)

“Once you’ve done the ride, it’s easy to get bitten by the bug, to want not only to challenge yourself physically but also to raise even more for the charity. This year being the Silver Jubilee, riders are keen to get back in the saddle,” added Ev Milker, Action 100 Chairperson.

She hopes this year can be the best yet: “We have set our sights on raising a challenging but realistic £75 thousand, as a committee – topping last year’s 62 thousand. But as we’re celebrating our Silver Jubilee, what an achievement it would be to raise over £200,000 and bust the £1 million overall total.”

Since its humble beginnings in 1982 the Action 100 Bike Ride has raised over £800,000 for the charity, including its Touching Tiny Lives appeal, which supports research teams across the UK investigating pregnancy complications, and premature birth. Action Medical Research is so pleased with the huge success of the Action 100 ride that it is establishing further 100 mile cycling fundraisers across the country.

The charity funds projects across a wide range of medical areas, including stroke, migraine and MRSA (the ‘super bug’). Despite helping to pioneer crucial medical developments including the polio and rubella vaccines, the hip replacement and the use of ultrasound in pregnancy, the charity receives no government funding.

Application forms are now available online at www.action100ride.org.uk, or by contacting registration officer Roy Clark on (0117) 973 6993, email registration@action100ride.org.uk.

-Ends-