Challenge Adventure Charities was formed in 1996 developing the charity cycling challenge concept from Forest Adventure Charities, and it is an annual event in late September.
The Challenge is to teams of 4 to ride in relay over three days, usually in France, covering 500+ miles together. Each team has their own support vehicle and are independent during the day but supported by Marshalls. Teams usually change rider every 45 minutes, and share navigation and driving before getting ready for their next ride. Each day will be between 160 and 220 miles, depending on the terrain and availability of accommodation.
The prime objective is to raise as much money as possible for charities chosen by the Trustees and the event participants. The routes are always challenging, yet achievable by ordinary cyclists on lightweight road bikes with sensible preparation, and invariably take riders through beautiful countryside and lovely villages with vineyards and the odd mountain thrown in for good measure.
"The combination of camaraderie, marvellous routes, a real challenge and sense of adventure whilst raising serious amounts of money for good causes has created a spirit to the challenge which has proved durable over the years."
Our History
Since inception the Challenges have raised £4.64M for all the worthy causes supported throughout the years. The biggest event was the Ultimate Challenge involving 115 teams and 460 people, which raised £379,412.
After so many successful team events, it was decided to start a new style of challenge so in 2007 the summer Challenge began, with nearly fifty riders cycling for a week in May around the coast and the up the mountainous centre of Corsica. Since then, there were summer Challenge each year until 2022.
Challenge Adventure Charities was also responsible for starting the IT Regatta in the 90s which has now become The Silicon Cup.
Sponsors & charities
CAC is a voluntary organisation and one important objective of the trustees is to distribute 100% of individual sponsorship to charity with no deduction to pay for event costs. Every penny raised goes to charity and this continues to be our aim.
Each year there are main event sponsors who subsidise the costs of the organisation to enable individuals to pay a reasonable entry fee to cover the costs of travel and accommodation etc. The trustees select mainly national charities to benefit from the collective fund raising and individuals can select their own charity for 50% of their sponsorship in the events.
Registered Charity
Challenge Adventure Charities is a registered charity (number 1057920) with the prime objective of raising money for other charitable causes nominated by participants in our events. It is a limited company (by guarantee) (number 3211438) and has a board of two directors who act as trustees: Tom Elliott and Stuart Mason-Elliott who are responsible for the general administration of the organisation. As such it is subject to the usual reporting requirements of companies and also to the Charities Commission.