Latest news with #JoCox
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Riders cycle from Yorkshire to London for The Jo Cox Way
More than 100 people have cycled from Yorkshire to London in memory of Jo Cox, the MP who was murdered in June were welcomed in the capital by Mrs Cox's parents alongside her sister Kim Leadbeater, the MP for Spen Cox, who was MP for the constituency under its former guise of Batley & Spen, was shot and stabbed multiple times in Birstall, West Yorkshire, by white supremacist Thomas 290-mile ride – The Jo Cox Way – has been taking place for a decade, and it raises money for The Jo Cox Foundation. Ms Leadbeater said: "We've had more cyclists than ever... I think it's fair to say the 10th Jo Cox Way has been a huge success."These riders are just amazing. It just shows the best of people."It's a huge physical and mental challenge and every single one of these cyclists has earnt the respect of everyone they know."Jo was a passionate campaigner for gender equality so it's wonderful to see nearly 60 women riding this year and showing that cycling really is for everyone." The youngest of the 103 participants in this year's ride – which involves 13,000ft of climbing – was 21 while the oldest was 80-year-old Kath Lyons from Skipton, who completed the route for the fourth time."I've been doing The Jo Cox Way again to remind myself what Jo stood for," Mrs Lyons said. "We all have more in common than we think."There are always times on the ride when you think 'What the hell am I doing this for?' but we just encourage each other to get to the top of the next hill." Ken Avery, 76, from Liversedge, West Yorkshire, has terminal cancer. His daughter rode alongside him for the first few miles of the journey, and his son crossed the finish line with him in London."I think they're both proud of me because I'm doing something that I enjoy and it's keeping me fit and healthy," he Avery was told he could expect to live for another 10 years – but that was 15 years ago. He said: "I believe it's down to cycling and keeping fit." Saeed Umar, 50, from Blackburn, was taking part for the first time."It's a great event, bringing together people of different abilities from across the country to help each other through this epic ride - working together, working through challenges," he said."Cycling and charity has brought us together." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Powys County Times
6 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
More than 100 cyclists set off on ride to remember murdered MP Jo Cox
More than 100 cyclists have set off on a 290-mile bike ride in memory of murdered MP Jo Cox. Cheered on by Mrs Cox's parents and sister, MP Kim Leadbeater, the group gathered at Princess Mary Athletics Stadium, in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, on Wednesday morning to follow her journey to London in the tenth Jo Cox Way event. The annual ride aims to keep alive the legacy of the Batley and Spen Labour MP – who was killed by a far-right terrorist in June 2016 – by championing the causes she was passionate about. This year's ride marks the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage, with riders wearing the purple, white and green colours of the suffragettes. They left the stadium just after 9.30am to cheers from crowds, including Ms Leadbeater, now the MP for Spen Valley. She said: 'Jo was a passionate campaigner for gender equality so it's wonderful to see nearly 60 women riding this year and showing that cycling really is for everyone. 'It's a tough challenge but a brilliant five days – everything Jo would have loved. 'It's also a great way to meet people from different walks of life and to celebrate that we have 'more in common', as Jo said in her maiden speech in Parliament 10 years ago. 'Cycling has so many physical and mental health benefits and also helps combat loneliness and isolation, causes which Jo cared about deeply. 'My mum, dad and I wish all the cyclists the very best of luck on their epic journey.' The cyclists are due to arrive in Buxton in Derbyshire on Wednesday evening and will reach Flat Iron Square in London on Sunday, following Jo Cox's journey from growing up in the Spen Valley to representing the area in Westminster. Ken Avery, from Liversedge, 76, who has terminal cancer, is taking part. His daughter rode alongside him as he left the stadium on Wednesday morning, and his son will ride with him in London. He said: 'I think they're both proud of me because I'm doing something that I enjoy and it's keeping me fit and healthy.' The youngest rider this year is 21, and the oldest, Kath Lyons from Skipton, celebrates her 80th birthday a month after the ride. She said: 'You see so much hatred on social media these days, people hide behind it. I'm doing the Jo Cox Way again to remind myself what Jo stood for – it's more relevant now than when she said it.'
The Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
More than 100 cyclists set off on ride to remember murdered MP Jo Cox
More than 100 cyclists have set off on a 290-mile bike ride in memory of murdered MP Jo Cox. Cheered on by Mrs Cox's parents and sister, MP Kim Leadbeater, the group gathered at Princess Mary Athletics Stadium, in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, on Wednesday morning to follow her journey to London in the tenth Jo Cox Way event. The annual ride aims to keep alive the legacy of the Batley and Spen Labour MP – who was killed by a far-right terrorist in June 2016 – by championing the causes she was passionate about. This year's ride marks the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage, with riders wearing the purple, white and green colours of the suffragettes. They left the stadium just after 9.30am to cheers from crowds, including Ms Leadbeater, now the MP for Spen Valley. She said: 'Jo was a passionate campaigner for gender equality so it's wonderful to see nearly 60 women riding this year and showing that cycling really is for everyone. 'It's a tough challenge but a brilliant five days – everything Jo would have loved. 'It's also a great way to meet people from different walks of life and to celebrate that we have 'more in common', as Jo said in her maiden speech in Parliament 10 years ago. ' Cycling has so many physical and mental health benefits and also helps combat loneliness and isolation, causes which Jo cared about deeply. 'My mum, dad and I wish all the cyclists the very best of luck on their epic journey.' The cyclists are due to arrive in Buxton in Derbyshire on Wednesday evening and will reach Flat Iron Square in London on Sunday, following Jo Cox's journey from growing up in the Spen Valley to representing the area in Westminster. Ken Avery, from Liversedge, 76, who has terminal cancer, is taking part. His daughter rode alongside him as he left the stadium on Wednesday morning, and his son will ride with him in London. He said: 'I think they're both proud of me because I'm doing something that I enjoy and it's keeping me fit and healthy.' The youngest rider this year is 21, and the oldest, Kath Lyons from Skipton, celebrates her 80th birthday a month after the ride. She said: 'You see so much hatred on social media these days, people hide behind it. I'm doing the Jo Cox Way again to remind myself what Jo stood for – it's more relevant now than when she said it.' To learn more about The Jo Cox Foundation visit and to donate visit
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
More than 100 cyclists set off on ride to remember murdered MP Jo Cox
More than 100 cyclists have set off on a 290-mile bike ride in memory of murdered MP Jo Cox. Cheered on by Mrs Cox's parents and sister, MP Kim Leadbeater, the group gathered at Princess Mary Athletics Stadium, in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, on Wednesday morning to follow her journey to London in the tenth Jo Cox Way event. The annual ride aims to keep alive the legacy of the Batley and Spen Labour MP – who was killed by a far-right terrorist in June 2016 – by championing the causes she was passionate about. This year's ride marks the 100th anniversary of women's suffrage, with riders wearing the purple, white and green colours of the suffragettes. They left the stadium just after 9.30am to cheers from crowds, including Ms Leadbeater, now the MP for Spen Valley. She said: 'Jo was a passionate campaigner for gender equality so it's wonderful to see nearly 60 women riding this year and showing that cycling really is for everyone. 'It's a tough challenge but a brilliant five days – everything Jo would have loved. 'It's also a great way to meet people from different walks of life and to celebrate that we have 'more in common', as Jo said in her maiden speech in Parliament 10 years ago. 'Cycling has so many physical and mental health benefits and also helps combat loneliness and isolation, causes which Jo cared about deeply. 'My mum, dad and I wish all the cyclists the very best of luck on their epic journey.' The cyclists are due to arrive in Buxton in Derbyshire on Wednesday evening and will reach Flat Iron Square in London on Sunday, following Jo Cox's journey from growing up in the Spen Valley to representing the area in Westminster. Ken Avery, from Liversedge, 76, who has terminal cancer, is taking part. His daughter rode alongside him as he left the stadium on Wednesday morning, and his son will ride with him in London. He said: 'I think they're both proud of me because I'm doing something that I enjoy and it's keeping me fit and healthy.' The youngest rider this year is 21, and the oldest, Kath Lyons from Skipton, celebrates her 80th birthday a month after the ride. She said: 'You see so much hatred on social media these days, people hide behind it. I'm doing the Jo Cox Way again to remind myself what Jo stood for – it's more relevant now than when she said it.' To learn more about The Jo Cox Foundation visit and to donate visit
BBC News
7 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Jo Cox Way ride sets off for 10th time
The sister of the murdered MP Jo Cox says an annual bike ride, set up in the weeks after her death, has helped to keep her family in its 10th year, The Jo Cox Way will set off on Wednesday and see more than 100 cyclists pedal 290 miles from Yorkshire to London to remember the Batley and Spen MP, who was killed in raise money and awareness for the foundation named after the late politician, which works to tackle issues she was passionate about such as loneliness and isolation"It is heart-warming to think Jo's name is at the forefront of something so positive," said sister Kim Leadbeater, who is now MP for Spen Valley. "June and July is always an emotional time of year for us," Ms Leadbeater continued."We remember Jo's murder and that is very difficult but what keeps us going is events like the Joe Cox Way bike ride."In the face of such dreadful tragedy, people came together and showed that we do have more in common than that which divides us." Ms Cox was killed in Birstall on 16 June 2016, a week before the EU referendum had been on her way to a constituency surgery when Thomas Mair shot and stabbed the was jailed for life following the attack."Jo's murder still is unbelievable" Ms Leadbeater said."It is still very, very difficult to comprehend what happened but the amount of positive energy created under the most horrific circumstances certainly kept us going as a family." This year, riders will be wearing the purple, white and green colours of the suffragettes to celebrate the women's suffrage the 105 cyclists taking part, 58 are women - and Sam Foster is among them."I think it is a way of channelling and making sure that positive things come out of something that was so disastrous," the 58-year-old maths teacher said."It is not just about raising money, but actually being a part of it, bringing a load of us together from completely different backgrounds and we have to work together." After setting off from the Princess Mary Stadium in Cleckheaton the mixed-ability cyclists will arrive in Buxton in Derbyshire later on are set to reach London on Sunday, July Vause is taking part in the ride for the first time after watching the race set off in recent years."I cannot actually believe that we are going from Cleckheaton to London; we know it is really hilly on day one so there is not really the shock there. "I know it is going to be a challenge and you have got to really dig deep"Ms Vause, from Gomersal, said the group would support each other through the challenge."It is not a race, there is not a prize for being first so I am really looking forward to it". Ranging in ages from 21 to 79, cyclists taking part will climb a total of 13,000 feet during their oldest rider on this year's route, Kath Lyons, from Sheffield, celebrates her 80th birthday just after event. She is riding in the challenge for the fourth time."I am doing The Jo Cox Way again to remind myself what Jo stood for; it is more relevant now than when she said it. "We all have 'more in common' than we think. "I also still quite fancy the challenge; can I still do it?" Ms Leadbeater added: "For those four-and-a-half days, nothing else matters - all that matters is getting up the next hill and getting to London, raising money for charity and making friendships."That is everything that Jo was about". Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
