Story
The Decision
”Every accomplishment, great or small, starts with a decision” - Unknown
Our decision, back in the Summer of 2005 was to do something worthwhile for charity.
Whilst sitting drinking cold beers outside a London pub in the early evening sun, a cycle ride from London to Monte Carlo in 2006 sounded like a good idea and was also a long, long way away. In our slightly drunken state, it also seemed rather easy!
We imagined pedalling through idyllic French towns, stopping off for a rustic lunch of bread, pate and cheese washed down with some fine local wine. We’d even stop to challenge a bunch of old Frenchmen to a game of boule. Eventually, after many many leisurely days of cycling, we would find ourselves on the streets made famous by the Grand Prix and pull up outside Le Grande Casino to get our bikes valet parked. After spraying the adoring crowd with a bottle of champagne we'd wander inside to win a fortune on the tables, before finally retiring to our suites as the sun set over the Mediterranean sea. It sounded perfect!
The Reality
“Reality is that moment in the morning when you remember exactly what it is you committed to the night before and think…bugger!”- P Dulieu
That was back in the Summer of 2005. I all sounded such fun! It also seemed such a long time away. No one considered that there would be hours and hours of training during the cold, wet English winter. No one imagined that we would impose upon ourselves a nine day time limit and a 984 mile route, and only those familiar with French geography had the slightest idea that we might have to cross part of the Alps! Never the less, the planning continued, the training commenced and here we are, in the Summer of 2006, poised to start on our journey. What on earth have we let ourselves in for?!?
The Reasons
• One in three of us will develop cancer at some point in our lives
• Today, 700 people in the UK will be told they have cancer
• Cancer is still the cause of 26% of all deaths in the UK
How many reasons do we need to support the largest independent funder of cancer research in the UK?
Help us help them continue their excellent work
We ride the bikes
You donate the money
Cancer Research UK does the rest
984 miles 9 days 7 cyclists 1 van 1 charity
P.S Make sure you fill in the Gift Aid section. It makes a real difference!