Youth Track Festive 50kms Fundraising Page 2024

Back for 2024 is the Youth Track Festive 50 on the morning of Sunday 29th December. Up to 30 young riders aged 8-16yrs are invited to complete 50kms or 112 laps on the track in one go!

Our Festive 50 riders will attempt to ride their distance in one go with only very limited stopping time to rest and refuel. Starting at 10am, all youth riders must be complete by 12:30pm to allow the adults to get underway.

Together with riders completing the 50 lap Frog Bike team challenge, last year’s riders raised just over £8,000 to support young riders less fortunate than themselves which has been used to support riders to come with their schools, community groups, bike maintenance for bikes to be used to travel to the velodrome and holiday club places.

This year we are asking young riders to raise money for 2 purposes:-

1) Build and install a Frog bike storage unit for the inner track

Our current bike storage will only fit the smallest of our bikes with a few larger ones which means that if young riders in our sessions are taller, a coach has to leave the session and get one from the container area. It also means that we cannot store our teaching Adult Strider bikes in track centre. We are seeking to build a bespoke storage unit in track centre near the composting toilet to allow us to house all our Frog and Strider Bikes.

2) Help to Fund Tianne and Harry’s roles

Over the last few years funding from the Rapha Foundation has helped us to create new staff roles to help increase participation and diversity at the Velodrome.  We have reached the end of this funding and due to the success of these roles and the extra participation they have created we are almost able to fully self fund our Youth Development Officer and Kids Development Officer.  We're looking to fundraise to cover 10% of the costs of these 2 roles.  

Please give generously to support these young riders braving the elements between Christmas and New Year to fundraise to improve the Velodrome!  Thank you.

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And a massive congratulations to the last of our riders to cross the line with thanks to our older outriders who jumped back on the track to help them pedal out the last few laps.

The first riders to finish did so in a blistering 1 hr 20 mins completing the distance at a very respectable average of 37-38kph.  All riders were done in just over 2 hours so even our steadiest riders were averaging almost 25kph!

Well done to you all - keep fundraising by sharing your achievements with your friends and family - this page will stay open until 31st January.

Thank you all!

Big thanks to coach Alfie Owen who paced some of our riders providing moral support and even a little push when the going got tough for some of our younger riders

Here's how they started this morning - 30 riders braving cold and damp misty conditions to raise money for youth and kids cycling at the velodrome

Rider name & age:  Timo Shapton, age 10

Why do you want to take part?

It's a great activity to be able to do with friends and at the same time allow other children the chance to enjoy cycling in the future. It will also help my training!

Rider name & age:  Jasper Shapton, age 13

Why do you want to take part?

Its a great way for regular riders to raise money to enable more people have the opportunity to access the velodrome

Rider Names & Ages (L-R): Marcus (9), Maxwell (12) & Malcolm Nelson (9

Rider name & age: Dylan Tetlow, age 11

Why do you want to take part?

I love a big challenge and look forward to giving this my best shot.

Rider name & age:  Luke Tetlow, age 9

Why do you want to take part?

I’m going to give it my all to raise some money for a great cause.

Rider name & age: Charles Bunting, age 13

Rider name & age:  Zaki Mellouk, age 10

Rider name & age: Jacob Day, age 12

Why do you want to take part?

I love spending time on my bike with my friends and raising money for charity whilst doing something I love and being being able to share that with others

Rider name & age:  Felix Chambers, age 9

Why do you want to take part?

I want as many children as possible to get the chance to cycle.

Rider name & age: Oscar Chambers, age 12

Why do you want to take part?

I am keen for as many children as possible to start their cycling life.

Rider name & age:  Laurie Dutton, age 13

Why do you want to take part?

If I can help people by riding my bike…that’s pretty cool.

Rider name & age: Christian Quinn, age 14

Why do you want to take part?

I want to help HVV and I love cycling! The trainers are amazing.

Rider names & ages:  Mila (blue bike) & Eva (pink bike) Unsworth, now both aged 12 but didn't they look cute?!

Why do you want to take part?

Mila:  I’ve been cycling at the velodrome for nearly 10 years, starting on balance bikes and moving through the frog bike sessions and onto track. HHV is the reason I love cycling so much and I want other kids to have that same opportunity. 

Eva:  I’ve been cycling at Herne Hill since I was 3 years old and I’ve always really enjoyed being there because the coaches always make the sessions fun. I want to raise money so more children are able to enjoy the velodrome.

Rider Names & Ages (L-R): Marcus (9), Maxwell (13) & Malcolm Nelson (9)

Rider name & age: Ana Mason, aged14

Why do you want to take part?

I’m looking forward to returning to do the Festive 50, a fun way to help others.

Rider name & age: Francis Morton, age 11

Why do you want to take part?

This is a brilliant festive event, and I want to help others to have the opportunity to participate in the culture of cycling.

Rider name & age:  Kitty Belton-Owen, age 14

Why do you want to take part?

I am doing the festive 50 as I want to help raise money but also I love riding my bike so much and I want to do something to help the track whilst also doing something I love.

Rider name & age: Chris Campos, age 14

Why do you want to take part?

Keeping fit and supporting our HHV

Rider name & age:  Sophia Matthews, age 10

Rider name & age: Jacob Matthews, age 12

Rider name & age:  Henry Hopson, age 14

Why do you want to take part?

I want to ride the Festive 50 because I'd love to see more kids riding bikes at the velodrome. By donating and helping out, more nippers can experience the enjoyment of 2 wheels. After all, mucking about on bikes will be some of the funnest times of your life.

Rider name & age:  Tiger Gloag, age 14

Rider name & age: James Billett, age 15

Why do you want to take part?

I have been riding at HHV since I was 12. I love all kinds of cycling but my favourite is track sprinting. When I'm not riding a bike, you'll most likely find me fixing one instead.  I want to ride to help raise funds to help others enjoy HHV too.

Rider name & age:  Milly Malthouse, age 15

Rider name & age:  Miles Goodman, age 11

Why do you want to take part?

I wish to assist with fundraising for such a worthy cause and cycling is the best way to do it. 

Rider Name & Age:  George Haines, aged 13

Why do you want to take part?

I love all cycling and racing on and off road and want more of my school to try it.  HHV is an amazing place and it’s good for making friends.

INTRODUCING OUR 2024 RIDERS...