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Last updated - 28/4/2011

Well, I did it!  In a total time of 34 hours, 29 minutes and 18 seconds.  And a great time had along the way.  Great scenary, cuisine and above all the companionship of a group of wonderful people.

Please continue to support through this page for what is a truely wonderful cause.  Thanks

22/3/2011

Let me tell you about what I am doing and why.  The HCPT Cycle to Lourdes - 2011 is a 530 mile cycle through France, from Chartres near Paris to Lourdes in the Pyrenees, between Saturday April 16 and Friday April 22, 2011.  The event involves 7 consecutive days of cycling, with stages ranging from 50-115 miles per day - easy if you say it quick! 

HCPT is a charity which organises Pilgrimage holidays to Lourdes for children and adults with disabilities.  It was founded in 1956 and currently organises trips for around 7000 people per year.

I decided to enter the HCPT Cycle to Lourdes - 2011 for two reasons:

1) - I have been travelling to Lourdes as a volunteer helper in the shrines of Our Lady since I was 15.  For the last 8 years, I have been in Lourdes at the same time as the annual HCPT Easter pilgrimage and through working closely with HCPT family groups, have seen at first hand the smiles on the faces of the children and young adults with disabilities who benefit from the opportunity to travel on pilgrimage holidays provided by HCPT.  Its a very humbling and heart-warming sight.

2) - In February 2010, I was diagnosed with testicular cancer and spent five months undergoing surgery and an aggressive chemotherapy regime.  Now returning to health and having had such a scare, I wanted and needed a challenge away from the norm.  I needed an activity that would help me regain fitness after the chemotherapy, which reduced by lung function for example by around 15%.  I also wanted to use what has obviously been an extremely traumatic experience as a positive in trying to raise money for a charity close to my heart.

So, I bought myself a bike etc and will be doing plenty of training ahead of April 16, 2011 when the cycle kicks off.  I'll keep this site updated with progress reports as Easter 2011 nears.

Thank you ever so much for sponsoring me.  Every penny adds to my determination, as well as swelling the coffers of a truly wonderful cause.

Thanks again,

Liam

 

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