STUDENTS and staff at Forth Valley College are being encouraged to pedal and raise money for a good cause while improving fitness.

The college's gym team is helping to promote Maggie's Forth Valley's Gran Fondo cycling fundraising challenge with the good cause also partnering with this year's UCI Cycling World Championships.

It comes after the gym team's Kasia Slapek worked with Maggie's during a recent fundraising walk from the Kelpies, helping participants warm up before they strolled to the cancer support centre in Larbert.

The gym team has built a strong group of eager participants for weekly workout sessions at the Alloa, Stirling and Falkirk campuses.

The team has loaned a spin bike to Maggie's, to allow their supporters to clock up the miles for the charity's Gran Fondo fundraiser.

As previously reported, the challenge is celebrating Maggie's partnership with the cycling world championships and is asking people to notch up either 250 or 500 miles by August 13.

The college's Kasia said: “For our team as fitness instructors, we know only too well that physical activity does not need to only be done in a gym or on a floor lifting weights, any physical activity helps improve your fitness and wellbeing.

“It would be amazing to encourage our staff and students to cycle more this summer and sign up for a very good cause at the same time, and we would all encourage them to get involved with the Gran Fondo event for Maggie's.”

Participants who sign up to raise funds for Maggie’s will receive a free cycling jersey and can join the community via a dedicated Maggie’s Virtual Gran Fondo Facebook group as well as tracking rides on Strava and joining the Strava group to be part of the chat.

Trophies are available for the top fundraiser, the oldest or youngest cyclists, those that have the best finish line photo or most outlandish cycling outfit.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will see 13 world championships combined for the first time ever in one event.

Stirling will host the Individual Time Trials from August 9 to 11.

Visit bit.ly/3WCO0X5 to support Maggie's Forth Valley's Gran Fondo challenge.