The Tour de Furness Charity Cycle Ride is celebrating its 29th anniversary in 2024.

Every year The Rotary Club of Furness organises the charity cycling event to allow riders of all abilities to join in, have fun and raise money for a cause of their choice.

Since the event began, they have successfully raised over £500,000, which has been distributed between St Mary’s Hospice, The NHS Morecambe Bay Hospitals Charity, Rotary Club of Furness Charitable Trust and other nominated charities.

Entries for The Tour de Furness are now open online ahead of the event on Sunday September 1.

 Cyclists will meet and start from Roose Cons Club on Leece Lane in Barrow, where they can take on one of three different routes.

The three routes range in difficulty from a family friendly ride to a more challenging course for experienced riders.

The shortest course is a 13 mile Tour de Furness, suitable for family groups and the ‘leisure cyclist’. The route mainly takes you through quiet countryside and includes a stretch along the coast road.

A middle route covers 25 miles, passing through Low Furness, following the coast road and climbing Birkrigg Fell before returning through the Barrow villages.

The longest course takes place over 50 miles and was renamed the ‘Lakeland Bluebird 50’ in memory of Donald Campbell's famous record attempt on Coniston Water. This route is best suited to cycling enthusiasts and takes you through the magnificent South Lakes, through Ulverston to Coniston and returning to Barrow via Dalton.

For their 29th anniversary, organisers are hoping for a record number of entries and a record number of sponsorships.

The Rotary Club of Furness are also looking for volunteers to help marshal and assist with the event. Anyone who would be able to lend a hand is urged to check out their volunteers’ page on their website.