The Annual Ride and Stride – 12 September 2009

Our most important fund raiser; this is an all-Somerset, all-churches, all-denominations, all-ages event. The whole community can be involved and in 2008 often spanned three generations of the same family.

How does it work?

Participants on cycles, foot or horseback get themselves sponsored to ride or walk on a route of their own choosing; calling in at as many churches and chapels as they think people will sponsor them for. Sponsorship can be per church or chapel visited, or as a lump sum. On the day, many churches and chapels will display a registration form on which to record your visit. There may be refreshments and a steward present to countersign your form. However, it is stressed that every church or chapel you visit and record on your sponsorship form, whether open or not, counts towards sponsorship. Historic Churches Trusts all over the country take part in this event and, if you want, you can cycle or walk in another participating county while raising money for your home churches and chapels in Somerset. These days an easy way to ask friends, relations and other contacts for sponsorship is by e-mail. Sponsors can then pay by credit or debit card online through the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF). To enable this you must contact the County Organiser (see below) who will send you a CAF internet link with your personal reference number together with details of the procedure (which is very simple). Car or public transport may be used to get to the start of a circuit and / or home from the end. If you cannot cycle or walk round your chosen circuit why not visit the churches by car and make a donation on the Sponsor Form?

When does it happen?

This year’s event is on the 12^th September 2009. What happens to the money? If requested, half of the money raised is returned to the church or chapel nominated by the individual cyclist or walker and the other half goes to the FSCC, or the entire amount can be given to the FSCC. The FSCC then awards grants to churches applying for help with repairs. Since the FSCC's foundation in 1996 the Ride and Stride has raised over £300,000.

You don't have to cycle to raise money

· You can walk - a three-mile walk in Taunton or Bath, for instance, with their

superb concentrations of historic churches and chapels can take in a dozen, and ten

miles can take in over 20. Or you can follow a rural circuit round some of our

beautiful country churches.

· You can stay put - you can act as a steward in your church or chapel and be