Emmerdale Take on Tour de France
Emmerdale cast members will take part in a 60 mile cycle ride from Coronation Street's Rover’s Return to back to The Woolpack pub.
ITV and sports charity Join In announce this week they are partnering for Tour de ITV. The celebrity pub to pub cycle fun ride, which takes place on 1st July will see Emmerdale take part in a 60 mile cycle ride from Coronation Street's Rover’s Return to back to The Woolpack pub.
They’ll be accompanied by some well-known faces including Laura Tobin, Good Morning Britain’s weather presenter.
Tour de ITV will be part of the nationwide ITV Local Heroes campaign, an initiative launched earlier this month that encourages volunteering in local sport. The campaign, which runs alongside ITV’s coverage of the World Cup and the Tour de France aims to inspire, engage and empower viewers to make a difference and help out at their local sports clubs.
“The Tour de ITV is a great way that we can go that extra mile during a fantastic Summer of Sport and a perfect opportunity to showcase the essential role of the volunteer behind any big or small sporting event. We hope that it will inspire more people to become ITV local heroes and lend a hand at a sporting club or event near them” said Sara Hanson, Head of Corporate Responsibility for ITV.
Taking place only days before the start of ITV’s coverage of the Tour de France, Coronation Street will wave off some of the Emmerdale cast and crew as they go that extra mile to highlight the important role played by volunteers through a 60mile ride.
The challenge will take them along part of the iconic Tour de France route and across the arduous Pennine hills. They'll also ride through local towns and villages, giving local communities the opportunity to line the streets and cheer on their favourite soap stars.
As part of the partnership London 2012 legacy charity Join In, will be recruiting ride volunteers and engaging with local schools and sports clubs, encouraging them to cheer on the riders at dedicated stop points in order to showcase the hard work, commitment and time that it takes it to put on a ride and the vital role volunteers play in community sport.
The riders will also be raising funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care the official charity of The Grand Depart.
"It's great to part of the ITV Local Heroes campaign inspiring more people to volunteer at local sports clubs allowing others to enjoy more sport. I think the ride will be a lot of fun, and a great way to raise funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care", said Jamie Shelton, who plays Robbie Lawson.
Also showing her support Gaynor Faye said, " I'm excited to be doing something at the heart of our local community inspiring people to volunteer at sports clubs which allows others to enjoy more sports and lead a healthy life. It's also great that we raising funds for a great charity like Marie Curie Cancer Care."
Look out for the Emmerdale cyclists as they make their way past your house!
Want to know more? Visit www.itv.com/localheroes and find out how you can get involved.