Spar Community

Spar saddles up for community bike ride

All monies raised through the cycle sportive will help fund play equipment and sports facilities.

Spar has become the headline sponsor of the first Wylam on Wheels cycle sportive, around the Tyne valley, in September.

Organised by the Wylam Sprockets Cycling Club, with all monies raised going to the sports facility Wylam Jubilee Field, the event on 18 September will see cyclists of all abilities tackle varying routes.

There will be three courses to choose from: ‘Couch to 25k’ for novice cyclists, ‘Couch to 50k’ for those who have got out of the habit of cycling, and a hillier ‘60k Challenger Route’ for those who cycle regularly. Those participating will cycle on relatively quiet roads, on a fully signposted and marshalled route, with feed stations along the way. After completing the ride, cyclists can enjoy an afternoon tea served at the Wylam Jubilee Field where the event starts and finishes.

Doug Bergstrand, owner of the Spar Wylam store for almost 30 years, was keen to support the village event and make it a success with a helping hand from James Hall & Co – Spar UK’s primary wholesaler and distributor for the North of England.

Bergstrand said: “It’s fantastic that Spar has stepped up to sponsor the Wylam on Wheels event through James Hall & Co, and by covering the event’s costs, it will make a big difference to the village as all funds can go towards the playing field.

Tom Murphy, marketing manager at James Hall & Co, commented: “Doug is a long-standing Spar independent retailer rooted in the community of Wylam. We were very keen to help out when he approached us, and we hope the event raises a brilliant amount for the village.”