Freemason gear up for gruelling charity ride

Included in the team is Ken Bearpark, from Brighouse, who has been in training for the last four months.

The Provincial Perimeter Pedal will start on Saturday, August 23, at Tapton Hall in Sheffield and head north to High Bentham, across to Ripon and then South through Goole returning to Sheffield on Monday.

It is a gruelling route with the cyclists climbing 7,000 feet on the first day, around 8,500 feet on the second, with a less arduous challenge on the last day.

The route will take in 24 masonic halls on the way, where the cyclists will be served refreshments.

They are scheduled to start arriving at Holmfirth Masonic Hall from approximately 9.50am on Saturday before cycling on to the perimeter at Uppermill.

The sponsorship money raised by the cyclists, from other Freemasons, will go towards the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Festival, which was launched in 2012 and has raised more than £1m to date.

Mr Bearpark said: “Freemasonry very much revolves around charity, so to combine a challenge like this with helping to raise money for good causes has helped us all to attract a significant amount of sponsorship, which will certainly inspire us as we tackle the route.”