On Sunday, 13th July 2025, our annual charity bike ride celebrated its 11th year at Earls Barton Cricket Club (The Grange Sportsfield). It was a brilliant day from start to finish, and we are delighted to share that, together, we raised over £10,000. For a small local charity like ours, this is a fantastic achievement and will go a very long way in supporting children and young people with Down syndrome across Northamptonshire.
How the ride has grown
What began back in 2015 with just 34 riders taking on a single 90-mile route has grown into something really special. This year we offered three different rides — 100 miles (“The McCarrick”), 60 miles (“Dylan’s Dash”), and 25 miles (“Charlie’s”) - so there was something for everyone, whether you were an experienced cyclist or taking on your very first challenge.
For those who preferred walking, “Arnold’s Amble” gave families and supporters the chance to enjoy a gentle 4.5-mile route to Sywell Country Park and back. We were also delighted to welcome riders from BacZac, a local cancer charity, who joined us for the first time.
Thank you
Events like this don’t just happen. They take months of planning and a lot of people giving their time and energy. We want to say a big thank you to:
- The organising committee – Mick, Bob, Peter, Farah, Tom, Leanne, Matt, Duncan, Steve, Stuart, and Tim. Your hard work made everything run smoothly.
- Our photographer, David Brown, for providing his lens to capture the event.
- Our volunteers – from marshalling and water stops to putting up signs, handing out goody bags, and helping with the raffle. We couldn’t do it without you. (A special mention to Midshires Electrical for donating cable ties – a small but vital detail!)
- Our sponsors and supporters – thank you for your generosity and for backing this event year after year.
- And finally, to everyone who took part – whether you cycled, walked, donated, bought a raffle ticket, or just came along to cheer, you made the day what it was!
Where the money goes
The money raised will help fund the services Ups ‘n’ Downs already provides, as well as new ones we are working hard to introduce. These include:
- Speech & Language and Occupational Therapy
- One-to-one swimming lessons to build confidence and water safety
- Sing & Sign sessions to support early communication
- Social events for parents and carers – a chance to share experiences and advice
- Specialist EHCP support from people who know the system inside out
- An educational resource library to use at home
- Training for teachers and teaching assistants so schools can better support our members
Get involved
We’re so proud of what was achieved this year and would love to keep building on it. If you’d like to get involved in future events – whether by volunteering, sponsoring, or taking part, please get in touch with Farah Cutter at
Thank you once again to everyone who supported Riding for Ups ‘n’ Downs 2025. We can’t wait to see what we can do together next year.
