Not long now until the first Merida mountain bike marathon event of the year, the event will take place in Builth Wells, Wales on 8-9th April. As well as the all the usual partying, pasta, 100km of great riding, event village and free camping there will be an added night time ride – the Exposure Lights Big Night Out, sponsored by Exposure Lights.

The Specialized ‘all women’ Starlets team have arranged to run a group social group ride during the Exposure Lights Big Night Out event. The Starlets by Starlight ride is open to anyone who has entered the ELBNO and who would like to ride with Jenn and Kate and enjoy the support and company of other like-minded riders in a no-drop, no-race group. The group is aimed primarily at women, but anyone is welcome to join in.

Jenn and Kate will be in the sign-on tent on Saturday afternoon, and riders who would like to join the group can register with the Starlets when they sign on. There is no additional charge, but all riders must officially enter the event if they wish to join in, and everyone will be encouraged to make a small donation to the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue team.

Specialized Starlets Jenn O’Connor and Kate Potter will also be raising money for Mountain Rescue as part of the Exposure Lights Big Night Out event. The two elite endurance racers will be leading a women’s social group as part of the event, and have chosen the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue team as the beneficiaries of their charity ride.

The Central Beacons Mountain Rescue team say to any donors “Thank you for choosing to support the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team, a voluntary ‘999’ emergency service, serving the communities of South Wales. The money you raise will be used to support the team by facilitating training and buying equipment. It costs an average of £54 a day to maintain a mountain rescue team in constant readiness to save lives, and all of this is raised from voluntary donations. Without sufficient training and equipment, team members could put their own lives at risk and the lives of the people they are trying to rescue. Raising money for us you know that you will be helping someone else to save lives.“

Says Jenn “Supporting the local Mountain Rescue team seemed an obvious choice, and it will help raise awareness of safety in the hills and the valuable work that those guys do, as well as encouraging women riders to get out and get involved.”

For ELBNO and Merida Marathon information and entry forms please visit www.mtb-marathon.co.uk. And for more information about Mountain Rescue, please visit www.mountain.rescue.org.uk.