One of Britain's best loved singers, Dame Shirley Bassey, has
thrown her support behind The Prostate Cancer Charity's Tour Ride
in Wales, which takes place on Sunday 21 August. The exciting and
challenging cycling event offers people the chance to ride an
official stage of the Tour of Britain whilst raising funds to fight
the most common cancer in men in the UK.
Dame Shirley was born in Tiger Bay, Cardiff and grew up nearby
in Splott. The 'Diamonds are Forever' singer worked in a local
factory and restaurant, spending her evenings singing in the area's
clubs and bars before she was discovered.
Multi-award winning singer Bassey said: "I think it's a
wonderful idea that my beloved South Wales valleys should be the
backdrop for this amazing Tour Ride and would urge all fit cyclists
to sign up, although I don't envy you on the challenging hill
climbs! The Prostate Cancer Charity is a great cause; I'm delighted
to be supporting it."
In a brand new event for 2011, cyclists will be able to tackle
the Welsh stage of the Tour of Britain ahead of the professionals
in September. Whether riders take on the tough 180km 'castle to
castle' Pro Ride from Welshpool to Caerphily Castle, or the shorter
but none-the-less rewarding 100km Challenge Ride through the Brecon
Beacons, the Wales Tour Ride is no ordinary challenge, for no
ordinary cause.
The Charity launched the events three years ago, and they have
gone from strength to strength. More than 4,500 people took to two
wheels last year, raising over £500,000 in doing so.
Speaking about the upcoming Wales Tour Ride, Katie Robbins, Tour
of Britain Project Manager at The Prostate Cancer Charity, says:
"We're really excited to have the support of such a superstar like
Dame Shirley! We are looking forward to bringing the Tour Ride to
Wales for the first time and I hope that people with an interest in
cycling will get on their bikes to raise awareness of prostate
cancer and funds for the Charity.
"Over the past three years, The Prostate Cancer Charity has
developed strong links with professional and amateur cyclists
through our partnership with The Tour of Britain which have been
invaluable in helping us to get many more people thinking about the
disease."
For further information, please visit www.tourride.co.uk