Some £180,000 has been raised for sick babies and children from the Champions of CycleSport Dinner.
The event, organised by children’s charity, Action Medical Research, and backed by online retailer, Wiggle, attracted some of the biggest names in cycling.
Team Sky principal and British Cycling’s Performance Director, Dave Brailsford, Olympic champion, former world hour record holder, and three-time Tour de France stage winner and yellow jersey, Chris Boardman, and Olympic and world champion, Joanna Rowsell, were among a star studded guest list.
David Graham, the head of fundraising for Action Medical Research, said he had been overwhelmed by the support shown by the world of cycling.
“Cycling contributes significant income towards our important work saving and changing children’s lives and to be associated with such passionate individuals from all walks of life inspires us on a daily basis,” he said.
A prize auction drew a number of impressive bids. A pair of jersey’s signed by Bradley Wiggins and Team Sky’s Tour de France winning squad sold for £7,000. A Pinarello Dogma 2 ridden by Thomas Löfkvist sold for £13,000.
Team Sky’s newest recruit, Jonathan Tiernan-Locke was among a host of well known riders interviewed by Sky TV’s Dermot Murnaghan, with footage relayed instantly onto big screens in front of the guests at the Hurlingham Club, London.
Commonwealth Games gold medalist, Rochelle Gilmore, told Murnaghan she had flown in from Australia to support Rowsell, who will ride next year for her DTPC Honda women’s team.
Rowsell, the cycling ambassador for Action Medical Research, urged supporters to sign up for one of the charity’s cycling events.
“What a great year for cycling! The Champions of CycleSport Dinner was a true celebration of this,” she said.
Action Medical Research entered its sixtieth year in 2012. Its funding programme supports research into conditions including Down’s syndrome, meningitis, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, premature birth and rare conditions affecting children.
Paracycling world champion and Paralympic bronze medalist, Jody Cundy, double world champion and Olympic bronze medalist, Rob Hales, and Michele Acquarone, race director of the Giro d’Italia, were among the 650 guests.
