NIDDERDALE CHARITY RIDERS GET PAIN RELIEF
Brain Dooks

£1 a leg: Masseuse Sharon Ward will sooth Great Milk (sout) Ride cyclists' aching muscles

More than 500 cyclists will set out on Sunday to raise money for charity, but skilful hands will be waiting at the finish to ease the pain.
Last year's Great Milk (Stout) Ride in Nidderdale produced a record £35,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support and this year's entry is 12 per cent higher.
In the past Sharon Ward has been a rider but this year she will have her portable massage table set up at the finish at Bewerley Park in Pateley Bridge.
Riders - many in fancy dress - will leave the Nidderdale Agricultural Society's Showground at 10am to cycle over the 20-mile Full Monty course or the 10-mile Half-Litre alternative.
The event was begun as a memorial to cancer victim, John Woodhouse, of Glasshouses near Pateley Bridge, whose family received support from Macmillan. In 1993 regulars at the Birch Tree Inn at Wilsill organised the fundraiser. The event has grown and so far £243,720 has been raised for Macmillan.
Rider this year can relax beforehand or afterwards as Sharon Ward, owner of sports and Swedish massage service RUB in Dacre Banks, charges £1 a leg for pain relief. All proceeds will go to the charity.
Ride spokesman Cliff Barton said 550 rider packs had been issues and 183 teams were taking part - up 100 per cent.

Source: The Yorkshire Post
September 2006