Nottingham City Council is teaming up this September with Olympic cycling medallist Bryan Steel and the Aegis Trust – which is based in Notts – to sponsor a cycling challenge that will raise vital funds for Aegis’ peacebuilding education and genocide prevention work internationally.

To complete the Aegis Citycard Cycles 100km Challenge, members of the public simply need to register online at aegistrust.org/100km and then cycle a minimum of 100km in one 24-hour period, anywhere in the World, any time from 1-30 September. To complete the Aegis Citycard Cycles 100km Challenge, members of the public simply need to register online at aegistrust.org/100km and then cycle a minimum of 100km in one 24-hour period, anywhere in the World, any time from 1-30 September.Riders who raise over £250 in sponsorship for Aegis will receive a free 100km Challenge cycling jersey and entry into a draw for a prize worth over £500. Riders who raise over £500 in sponsorship for Aegis will receive entry into a draw for a prize worth over £1000.

Participants have the option of completing the challenge in illustrious company by joining Nottingham’s very own Olympic cycling medallist Bryan Steel on Sunday 28 September for a scenic 100km route through the Nottinghamshire countryside. A team of City Council employees from a variety of service areas will be part of a ‘Citycard Cycle Team’, completing the 100km using their very own Citycard Cycles!

The ride on 28 September will start and finish at the National Holocaust Centre, from which Aegis developed. An international organisation working to prevent genocide, Aegis leads nationwide peacebuilding work in Rwanda, with plans to extend to South Sudan and the Central African Republic where violence has displaced hundreds of thousands and mass atrocities are a high risk.

“Aegis is an amazing charity deserving all the support we can give it, so I’m thrilled that Nottingham City Council is joining me to do just that through the Aegis Citycard Cycles 100km Challenge this September,” says Bryan Steel. “Sign up for the challenge today and come ride with us – it’s going to be the best day out you’ll have this autumn!”

“On behalf of the whole team at the Aegis Trust I’d like to offer massive thanks to Nottingham City Council, to Bryan Steel and to all who take part in the challenge this September,” says Dr James Smith CBE, Aegis’ founder and CEO. “Building united and peaceful communities in places divided by conflict is not easy, but every pound raised can help us make a real difference to people’s lives.”

Councillor Jane Urquhart, Nottingham City Council’s Portfolio Holder for transportation and planning said: “Cycling is very important to Nottingham City Council and this is a great way to encourage not only our employees but also local residents and businesses to get involved in cycling. This challenge is all about encouraging local people to get outside and enjoy Nottingham’s great outdoors, gaining the health benefits cycling has to offer at the same time as raising money for such a worthy charity.”

The City Council’s team is aiming to reach a target of £2,500 through generous sponsorship donations.

Donations can either be made to the team as a whole or to individuals within the team through the Just Giving team page here: www.justgiving.com/teams/NCCCitycardCycleTeam

For more information on the Citycard Cycle Team please visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/CitycardCycleChallenge  – and to register to take part yourself, go to www.aegistrust.org/100km.