Female riders take centre stage in AFPA Trust BIG Cycle 2026

The AFPA Trust BIG Cycle 2026 is not only shaping up to be the biggest ride in the event’s history, it is also set to feature a growing number of women taking on the challenge for the very first time.

Among them are Hannah Berry and Emma Edwards from Asset Advantage, who will ride from London to Amsterdam this June in support of The Camrose Centre, a Basingstoke charity supporting people who are homeless or vulnerably housed.

The pair will ride alongside other female participants including Julie Hughes from Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice Service, and Christina Burns, head of group operations for audio & music at the BBC, helping bring greater female representation to one of the specialist finance industry’s most inspiring charity events.

What makes Hannah and Emma’s story even more remarkable is that neither considered themselves cyclists before signing up for the challenge.

Emma said she was immediately drawn to the event because of the opportunity to combine adventure, teamwork and fundraising.

“I’ve always loved sport and being outdoors, so when the chance came to cycle from London to Amsterdam, I jumped at it – especially with the promise of a few celebratory beers at the finish,” she said.

Hannah and Emma are fundraising for The Camrose Centre through their JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/page/emma-and-hannah.

Explaining why supporting the charity matters to her, Emma said: “The Camrose Centre is a local charity in Basingstoke that plays a vital role in supporting people who are homeless or vulnerably housed in the surrounding area. Supporting a local organisation is important to me, as it helps ensure that those in our own community receive support during times of crisis.”

For Hannah, the challenge represents an opportunity to step outside her comfort zone both physically and mentally.

“I’ve always been an active person and enjoy pushing myself outside of my comfort zone,” she said. “This challenge is a great opportunity to test myself both physically and mentally. I’m really looking forward to completing the cycle as part of a group in such a supportive and encouraging environment.”

Despite neither rider having significant cycling experience beforehand, both have embraced the challenge head-on.

Hannah admitted the experience has already pushed her in new directions.

“As someone who usually focuses on weight training in the gym, this has definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone, as it involves a lot more cardio than I’m used to,” she said.

Emma added: “It’s been a brilliant journey so far, from finding the right bike to getting out on the first training rides. Pushing myself outside my comfort zone is all part of the adventure, and I’m really enjoying every minute of it.”

The training process has also brought moments of reality for both riders.

“After a 30-mile ride, it really started to hit just how far we’ll actually be cycling,” Hannah said.

Emma recalled one particularly difficult session: “Training has been going great so far, except for one very windy, cold, and wet ride that quickly taught me the importance of having the right clothing for the weather.”

For AFPA Trust Chair Robert Taylor, the willingness of first-time cyclists like Emma and Hannah to take on such a significant challenge captures exactly what the BIG Cycle is all about.

“Emma and Hannah are a real inspiration,” he said. “They didn’t even own bikes before committing to ride for their chosen charity, The Camrose Centre, and they deserve huge respect for stepping so far outside their comfort zone.

“This is exactly what these rides are about – personal journeys, discovery, teamwork and supporting incredible causes. I cannot wait to ride alongside them and witness the sense of achievement when we all arrive in Amsterdam.”

The growing number of female riders taking part this year is also being welcomed as an important step forward for the industry.

Hannah said: “I believe there were no women participating last year, so it’s great to see that there are already a handful taking part this time. It’s an important topic to cover. It is easy for women to shy away from participating, especially in sports that are traditionally more male-dominated.”

Both Emma and Hannah agree that greater participation can help inspire confidence and encourage more women across the industry to get involved in future events.

The AFPA Trust BIG Cycle 2026 takes place from 24–28 June, with riders travelling from London to Amsterdam via Harwich and the Hook of Holland in support of a range of charitable causes.

Find out more about the AFPA Trust BIG Cycle here: https://afpatrust.com/event/the-afpa-trust-big-cycle-event/

A few spaces are still available for the BIG Cycle. Industry professionals can sign up or learn more by contacting mark@marklyonsrecruitment.com or visiting www.afpatrust.com/events.

All donations are gratefully received and will directly help support the charities chosen by the BIG Cycle Riders.