A fantastic challenge for teams of four in the Brecon Beacons. Cycle 47 miles, climb Pen y Fan and canoe Pontsticill Reservoir. Start at sunrise and finish by sunset. PLACES LIMITED Cycle Climb Canoe 25 June 2016 The race is on. Sign up today to secure your place in this exciting challenge. Pay a registration fee of 195 and commit to raising funds that could change the lives of babies and children. Managed by ction for charity lifechangingevents For further information and an application form actionforcharity.co.uk 01590 677854 events@actionforcharity.co.uk Race the Sun Brecon Beacons is managed by Action for Charity on behalf of Action Medical Research Charity reg. nos 208701 and SC039284
Race the Sun is a very exciting team challenge set in the stunning Brecon Beacons. Teams of four are challenged to cycle 47 miles, climb Pen y Fan (2,907ft) and canoe the Pontsticill Reservoir starting at sunrise and finishing by sunset racing the sun! Funds raised on the challenge will support children s charity Action Medical Research. The challenge starts in Brecon, South Wales where we have registration and a full event briefing on the Friday evening (24 June 2016) from 6-9pm. Teams are then set off the following morning from 6am onwards at one-minute intervals and the challenge begins! Race the Sun challenges are very popular so please register your team early to avoid disappointment.
The Challenge Teams of four will be attempting to complete cycling, climbing and canoeing sections of the challenge starting at sunrise and aiming to finish by sunset racing the sun! You will cycle approximately 47 miles, hike to the summit of the highest mountain in South Wales Pen y Fan at 2,907ft (886m) and canoe a 3km course on the Pontsticill Reservoir. Canoe experience is not essential. From the start point in Brecon, South Wales there will be a staggered start (one minute intervals) for the first leg of cycling, which is approximately 22 miles. Although mainly on country roads this section does include approximately 3 miles of rough track. The way-marked and marshalled route will take you to our check-in point near the foot of Pen y Fan where you will leave your bikes with our support team and head off on the classic horseshoe walk, which summits Corn Du (873m), Pen y Fan (886m) and Cribyn (795m). A round walk of approximately 8 miles and a vertical height gain of over 2,400ft from the start point. Then it is back down to the check-in point to retrieve bikes and set off for the Pontsticill Reservoir, which is 3 miles away to tackle a 3km course. You will be using two Canadian canoes rafted together (as pictured below) and buoyancy aids are provided. Please note canoe experience is not essential. Once you have completed the canoe section it is back on your bikes for a final dash of approximately 22 miles to the finish line in Brecon.
Race the Sun Brecon Beacons Route START SECTION 1 SECTION 2 SECTION 3 SECTION 4 Having taken part in the Race the Sun Brecon Beacons in 2014, I couldn t wait to get back to work and suggest that we attack this course together as a team from Admiral. This grew into 4 teams pretty quickly. We all trained hard and I think enjoyed that journey to get us prepared for the event, but nothing compares to the day itself. As with the previous year the organisation was excellent. The marshals keep a sunny disposition all day, and those at the foot of Pen-y-Fan were a god-send with their positive energy, sweet cups of tea and selections of biscuits! The team spirit out on the course was awesome too, with one team, who we d never met before, even loaning us a bike to get us to the finish after a broken chain with around 19 miles to go! We will be back next year, perhaps this time for a crack at the title! Matt Wintle Admiral Group Race the Sun Brecon Beacons 2015 Participant
Your questions answered How does it work? To take part you are required to pay a non-refundable registration fee of 195 per team of four (not per person) when you sign up for the challenge. You are then asked to raise minimum funds of 2,000 as a team for Action Medical Research. In order to be confirmed on the challenge your team must have 600 of those funds in by 13 May 2016. The outstanding funds should be paid in by 25 July 2016. In return we provide full event support, including fundraising advice and sponsor forms, route cards and equipment lists. We also provide qualified event marshals, first aid support, certificates, medals, trophies for winning teams, t-shirts and post event refreshments. The more money raised by participants on the challenge the higher the percentage of funds that directly support the work of Action Medical Research. You are therefore encouraged to exceed the minimum fundraising target. How fit do I have to be? Race the Sun Brecon Beacons is an exciting adventure race. It is achievable by people with a reasonable level of fitness, who are prepared to put in plenty of training beforehand. The more you train, the more you will enjoy the challenge. It is a great incentive to train and get fit, whilst at the same time knowing you are raising funds for an excellent cause. How much of the cycling is off road? The majority of the 47 miles cycling is on road. There are however two sections of approximately 3 and 5 miles respectively that are on rough tracks. Do you have to carry your own equipment? Your equipment for climbing Pen y Fan is transported to the mountain check in point so it is waiting for you when you finish the first cycle leg. It is then transported back to the finish line once the final team leaves the mountain check-in base. We recommend you remove all sweaty clothing and replace it with dry clothing before each section. What about bikes? You need to provide your own bikes and we would suggest a mountain bike or a hybrid bike be used for the challenge. We do not recommend road bikes for this challenge. Your bike must be well maintained and in good working order and a thorough service before the big day is recommended. You should carry a puncture repair kit and a pump and you are advised to carry a spare inner tube as well. There will be a bike mechanic on hand to deal with any serious repairs. Do I need canoe experience? Canoe experience is not necessary for this challenge. Your team of four will use two Canadian style canoes, which are tied together to form a raft. The canoes and buoyancy aids are provided. Do I need special equipment? It is essential to come prepared with the correct equipment for the challenge and know how to use it. For the cycling, you must wear a helmet and have front and rear lights fitted to your bike, in case of fog or if you start or finish in the dark. For the mountain section, you must be equipped and clothed properly for hill-walking, remembering the weather in the Brecon s can change suddenly and drastically. You must wear walking boots or shoes designed for fell-running (trainers are forbidden). Your team must have a map, map case, compass and first aid kit. Each person must have a survival bag and whistle. You must have extra thermal layers, hat, gloves and waterproof top and trousers. You must carry a torch (front bike light will suffice). All specialist equipment for the canoe section will be provided. How do I sign up? The best way to register is on the Action for Charity website: don t worr y if you haven t confirmed your team of four people yet, you can register now to secure your place and then send us details of your other team members as soon as they are confirmed. PLACES ARE LIMITED SO PLEASE REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT
Make your team a winner Everyone who takes part in Race the Sun Brecon Beacons will receive a medal and certificate. However we also have trophies for the fastest teams, the best team spirit and the top fundraising team. The awards on offer are: Fastest Team 2nd Fastest Team 3rd Fastest Team Fastest All Female Team Fastest Mixed Team (One or more female participants) Golden Oldies (only teams with a combined age of 200 plus can enter this one!) Best Team Spirit (triumph over adversity, good fun, supportive to each other and other teams etc) Top Fundraising Team (awarded one month after the event) Fastest Team 2015 3 Young Thrusters & 1 Lucky Lady 6hrs 6mins 2014 The Coventrians 6hrs 37mins 2013 The Eclectics Stanlow Six 5hrs 49mins Fastest All Female Team 2015 The Huge Jass Hikers 9hrs 22mins 2014 Ruck and Rollers 9hrs 57mins 2013 Hel s Belles Ride Again 9hrs 31mins Fastest Mixed Team 2015 3 Young Thrusters & 1 Lucky Lady 6hrs 6mins 2014 3 Young Thrusters and 1 Lucky Lady 7hrs 48min 2013 Four Tyred Canoedlers 9hrs 26mins HALL OF FAME Golden Oldies 2015 Bridgehead (217 years young!) 7 hrs 15mins 2014 4 Skins (184 years young!) 6hrs 46mins 2013 Team Sherbet Dib Dab (198 years young!) 7hrs 26mins Top Fundraising Team 2015 (tbc) 2014 Team 167 7,035 Best Team Spirit 2013 Gamebirds 6,675 Best Team Spirit 2015 The Achluophobiacs II 2014 Stiff Joints 2013 Yoxall Tornado I just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone involved with the challenge this weekend! The support that we received in the build-up, during and after the event was absolutely fantastic! Martin Finn Team LTMH Race the Sun Brecon Beacons 2015 Participant
Why take part? Action Medical Research is a UK-wide charity funding vital research to help sick and disabled babies and children. Despite enormous progress in medicine, all around the UK today there are hundreds of thousands of sick and disabled children who need your help. Research is the key to saving many of these children from a lifetime of suffering. Yet, surprisingly, medical research into conditions that devastate children s lives is poorly funded. By taking part in Race the Sun Brecon Beacons you will be helping to find ways to reduce premature birth, to support children facing a lifetime of challenge caused by disabilities, and to help develop treatments for rare and incurable diseases. Will you take Action and help change children s lives? Sophie s story Baby Sophie loves nothing more than a cuddle. But for mum Natasha cuddles with Sophie are even more precious as she wasn t able to hold her until she was five days old. Sophie s birth had complications which led to her being starved of oxygen. She was born blue and totally unresponsive, so doctors tried a revolutionary new cooling therapy to reduce the risk of brain damage. Natasha says: It was eight hours after birth before I saw Sophie. We couldn t hold her but we could put a hand on her head and her tummy but not for too long as it warmed her up. Her skin was very cold to the touch. The cooling treatment takes advantage of a therapeutic window that occurs after a newborn baby suffers oxygen shortage. By cooling the body to reduce brain temperature, doctors can alter the chemical processes that lead to brain damage. The baby is cooled then gradually warmed again. When they warmed her up it was like she was just coming alive, says Natasha. She was moving her hands and feet and looking around and it was such a huge change in her. Action Medical Research has invested around 1 million during the past 20 years into projects that have helped to develop cooling as a breakthrough therapy for babies. But there is still much more to be done and it s only with your support that we can help save and change the lives of babies and children like Sophie. Every mile you ride and step you take on Race the Sun Brecon Beacons will help fund medical research that could one day help children like Sophie. With your help, we can fund even more life-changing research for babies and children in 2016. Charity reg. nos 208701 and SC039284
How we support you Action for Charity are here to help you achieve your challenge and will help you all the way. We are on hand from the minute you sign up to answer any questions you might have about your fundraising, training or the challenge itself. Fundraising As soon as your team registers for Race the Sun Brecon Beacons all four team members will be sent a welcome pack, which includes fundraising advice and original ideas to raise funds for Action Medical Research. On signing up you will also receive sponsorship forms and we send you fundraising ideas in the build up to the event. Online Fundraising Page Your welcome pack will also include details on how to set up your own online fundraising page on the Action Medical Research website. You can either set up one page for the team, four individual pages or both! This will enable you to send a link that your sponsors can then click on and donate securely using a credit or debit card. Previous participants have raised hundreds online! The Challenge On the big day itself our team will be there to support you throughout. We are there to make your challenge as enjoyable as possible and will support you every step of the way. We will be at all the check in points with water, hot drinks, snacks and plenty of encouragement! ction for charity lifechangingevents Race the Sun Brecon Beacons is managed by Action for Charity to raise funds for Action Medical Research. Action for Charity is the trading name of Action Events Limited. Company Registration No. 3615142. Registered Office: 2nd Floor, Newcourt House, New Street, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 9BQ.
Conditions of entry 1. A registration fee of 195 per team (non-refundable) is required to participate in Race the Sun Brecon Beacons. Teams must also undertake to raise a minimum of 2,000 in sponsorship money for Action Medical Research and pay 600 in by 13 May 2016. 2. If the team does not take up its place for any reason, they must inform the organisers immediately. They must contact all their sponsors to ask if they wish to make a donation or have their sponsorship money returned. They must send all sponsorship forms and sponsorship money collected to the organisers who will pass it on to Action Medical Research. 3. All cheques for sponsorship money must be made payable to Action Medical Research and sent to the organisers. 4. The good reputation of Action Medical Research is paramount. You must agree to act lawfully and follow the safety and fundraising guidelines laid out by the organisers. 6. All those who take part in the Race the Sun event do so at their own risk. The Charity and the organisers are unable to accept liability for any injury, loss or damage, however arising, or for cancellation of the event for any reasons outside their control. 7. Teams must abide by the Country Code and the Highway Code and adhere to all safety guidelines and instructions given by the organisers. 8. Team members must abide by the Rules of the Event issued by the organisers and follow all instructions regarding essential equipment and clothing. Teams which do not abide by the rules will be disqualified from the event. 9. Action Medical Research and the organisers may, at their sole discretion, withdraw places on the event if they believe it is in the best interest of the Charity to do so. 5. You must be at least 18 years of age before the 25 June 2016 unless special permission has been given by the organisers. ction for charity lifechangingevents Race the Sun Brecon Beacons is managed by Action for Charity to raise funds for Action Medical Research, Registered Charity No. 208701 and SC039284 Action for Charity is the trading name of Action Events Limited Registered Office: Newcourt House, New Street, Lymington, Hampshire SO41 9BQ. Company Reg. No. 3615142