During the lockdown period older people are particularly at risk, not only from Coronavirus but also from being asked to isolate and stay at home. Age UK are working tirelessly to protect and help the older members of our society. They exist to help when they are needed most.

Whilst I am at home, having closed our business to all but emergencies to protect both my team and our patients, I wanted to do something to help in any way I could. 

As a keen cyclist I wanted to undertake a challenge that everyone, even non-cyclists would appreciate is difficult! Everesting has become an event that is well recognised. The idea is to ride up (and down) the same hill as many times as it takes to climb the equivalent vertical gain as Mount Everest- 8848m. I am conscious of the limitations placed on exercise at the moment so think this would be best done on the virtual cycling platform Zwift. Zwift replicates the feel of climbing by increasing the resistance to the pedals so it really will feel like I am riding up hill. 

I have chosen to ride up the Alpe du Zwift, a virtual replica of Alpe d'Huez in the French Alps- a famous climb of 13.8km with an 8.1% average gradient and 21 hairpin bends. 

This is going to take me at least 10 hours on the bike so please donate whatever you can to make the struggle a little more worthwhile!