Hello kind and charitable people,

 

On Sunday 18th July I will be heading off to the French Pyranees and joining up with 9500 other anorexic, lycra-clad fools, all with the aim of finishing this year's 'Etape du Tour'; an annual cycling event which takes one stage of the Tour de France.

This year's Etape route is Stage 17 which leaves and arrives at the summit of the Col du Tourmalet,181km later, and after a grueling 4400m of climbing. To add to this unpleasantness temperatures in the in the summer often exceed 35 degrees Celsius, but can also drop to below freezing at altitude.  All the time the aim is to stay ahead of the broom wagon, which typically scoops up a quarter of those who start who can’t go fast enough over the course.  I am hoping that the 7 months of training and sacrificed evenings and weekends (not to mention basically all my money!) won’t all be in vain and that however close the van may come I won’t get to see the inside of one!

So having finally entered an event I deem worthy of asking people to part with their hard-earned for, I have decided to support (In collaboration with the other 35 cyclists from Thomson Reuters) the Emergency Information Service (EIS) of the Thomson Reuters Foundation. The EIS focuses on the often overlooked aspect of providing access to life-saving information to those affected by earthquakes and other catastrophes. Most recently during the devastating earthquake in the EIS distributed vital information such as safe drinking water locations, aid distribution information and the location of places of shelter.  You can see more details about the charity at their website:

http://ar.thomsonreuters.com/#/?section=event&event=6&chapter=0

So spare a thought for me when you are firing up your bbq next Sunday and please give generously to this worthy cause.

Thanks

Rob