MALVERN Town Council is throwing down the gauntlet to local cyclists, daring them to take part in a 100-mile cycle ride for charity around the town.

Last year, mayor Julian Roskams led a team of Council staff and Malvern residents took part in the first Mad Malvern Cycling Team Challenge. The riders successfully completed the 100 miles, and this year the challenge is being thrown open to all comers, to raise money for Age UK and Dementia UK.

On Sunday, April 12, from 10.30am until 4.30pm, Victoria Park in Malvern Link will form the start and finish line of a level 20-mile course that takes in Welland, Hanley Castle and Hanley Swan, and the challenge is for teams to be sponsored to complete 100 miles in total – or even further, if they are feeling especially fit.

Organisers are rescuing teams of five, with each rider completing a lap of the course and knocking 20 miles off the target distance. While there’s nothing to stop people entering solo, the more riders in the team, the less each one hasto ride.

Victoria Park will also be hosting several other attractions to give a real community fete atmosphere to the event, including a bouncy castle, traditional Victorian fairground ride, and more to be confirmed.

Proceeds from all these will go to the charities being supported by the cycling challenge, Age UK and Dementia UK, which are Cllr Roskams' charities for his term in office.

So even people who are not taking part are urged to come down to Victoria Park, have some fun, and support two very good causes while cheering the brave cyclists on.

To register your team, contact Eadwine Brown at the council on ebrown@malvern-tc.org.uk or 01684 566667. There is a registration fee of £20 for a team of five, which will be donated to the mayor’s charities, and the council will also provide sponsorship forms so that participants can either raise more money for Age UK and Dementia UK, or support a cause of their own.

The deadline for registration is noon on Thursday, April 2.