Saddle Up or Stride Out: Rutland's Churches Call for Support in Annual Ride & Stride Event

Saddle Up or Stride Out: Rutland's Churches Call for Support in Annual Ride & Stride Event

Get ready to explore Rutland's rich architectural heritage and contribute to a vital cause! The annual Ride & Stride event is set to take place on Saturday, September 13th, 2025, from 10 am to 6 pm, inviting individuals and teams to embark on a unique challenge while raising essential funds for the preservation of the county's beloved churches.

Rutland boasts an impressive 64 churches, each a cherished landmark within its villages and towns. These magnificent structures, while often admired by locals and visitors alike, are in constant need of maintenance and preservation. The Ride & Stride event serves as a crucial fundraiser for the Rutland Historic Churches Preservation Trust (RHCPT), directly supporting their ongoing efforts to ensure these historic buildings stand for generations to come.

Participants in Ride & Stride challenge themselves to visit as many churches as they can within the designated timeframe, utilising their chosen mode of transport. While cycling and walking are popular choices, the event encourages creativity, welcoming horse riders and even offering a prize for the most original mode of transport. This offers a fantastic opportunity for individuals, families, and even village teams to come together, enjoy the beautiful Rutland countryside, and make a tangible difference.

The fundraising model is designed to directly benefit both the broader preservation efforts and individual churches. Half of the money raised by participants can be donated to their nominated church (if applicable), providing direct support to their local place of worship. Every remaining penny is then utilised by the RHCPT to help preserve Rutland's wider collection of church buildings.

To participate in this rewarding event, organisers prefer advance registration with the Trust, with online registration being the preferred method. This allows the RHCPT to keep participants informed of arrangements leading up to the event and express their gratitude afterwards.

Once registered, participants will need to obtain two forms: one for recording sponsorship and another to log the churches they visit throughout the day. These can be collected from a local church organiser or printed independently.

This year, the event is embracing a new fundraising platform, Goodhub, to streamline the process. Goodhub offers an easy-to-use interface for participants to register, record their fundraising progress, and even claim Gift Aid where applicable. Those seeking sponsorship should visit the RHCPT's Goodhub fundraising page and click "Fundraise," while those wishing to make a one-off contribution can simply click "Donate."

www.goodhub.com/go/rutland-historic-churches-preservation-trust-11991

So, mark your calendars for September 13th, 2025. Whether you choose to walk, cycle, ride, or come up with an entirely unique method of transport, the Rutland Ride & Stride offers a wonderful opportunity to explore the county, challenge yourself, and contribute to the vital preservation of Rutland's treasured historic churches.