This year’s Pedal for Pounds has raised tens of thousands of pounds for Huddersfield charities.

The 85 sponsored cyclists rode the gruelling 240-mile route from the John Smith’s Stadium to Cardiff City for Town’s final away game last season on Sunday, April 30.

The cyclists raised £53,896.23 but the final tally was boosted by sales of Town’s charity shirts which were worn against Norwich City on Wednesday, March 15, 2023.

This amounted to £19,975, making the final total £73,871.

The ride, sponsored by Rastrick company Millers Oils, was the 11th Pedal for Pounds which sees cyclists riding hundreds of miles at the end of each season to help local charities.

The money this year has been split between the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Huddersfield Town Foundation, mental health charity Andy’s Man Club and Ruddi’s Retreat, with each receiving almost £18,500.

Ali Waterworth founded Slaithwaite-based Ruddi’s Retreat (https://www.ruddisretreat.org/) which provides free caravan holidays in Filey and near Blackpool for families suffering from the impact and after effects of cancer treatment, life-limiting illnesses or bereavement. Many would otherwise be unable to afford a holiday.

She said: “We are unbelievably grateful to the #P4P11 Land Of The Dragon participants and all of the HTFC family for choosing Ruddi’s Retreat to be one of the four recipients of the money raised this year. We received a huge £18,467.

“We try so hard to raise as much money as we can ourselves with our shop Ruddi’s and other fundraisers so to receive such a massive donation like this really will help us to help families make hundreds of happy memories while they are going through the hardest times of their lives.”

Club Ambassador Andy Booth said: “I’m so happy we can once again help four local charities. Each and every one of our 85 cyclists should be incredibly proud of the huge total they’ve helped to raise.

“Also, a huge thank you to all the fans who bought the replica charity shirts this year to help increase the total. Thanks to Millers Oils for their support as well as the voluntary support team who help the ride go as smoothly as possible.”

Written by ANDY HIRST who runs his own Yorkshire freelance journalism agency AH! PR (https://ah-pr.com/) specialising in press releases, blogging, website content and copywriting.