Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

 

As many of you already know, I'm participating in the Etape du Tour this summer in July. The Etape is an organised event that allows amateurs to race over (or follow!) one of the most mountainous stages of this year's Tour de France. (More information on the Etape is available on its website.)

 

The route, whilst relatively short at 109km, goes over the Col du Télégraphe (11.9km at 7.1%, summit 1,566m) and the Galibier (16.7km at 6.8%, summit 2,556m), finishing with an ascent of the Alpe d’Huez (13.8km at 8%, summit 1,850m). Both the Galibier and the Alpe d'Huez are officially listed as "hors catégorie" (or "beyond categorization") due to their difficulty, and the Galibier's last 7km have an average gradient of 8.4% and are all above 2,000m altitude. (Additional information on the stage is provided on the official Tour de France website.)

 

As I have been in training for several months for this event (losing more than a stone of weight in the process!), it seems like a good opportunity to help raise funds for a great cause also. Given the nature of the event, the British Heart Foundation was an obvious choice, especially given the fantastic work that they do. In 2009, over 180,000 people died from cardiovascular disease in the UK, accounting for one in three of all deaths. Since 1961, the British Heart Foundation has been helping to increase awareness and improve treatment of heart disease through information, education, care, support, training and funding. (Further information on the British Heart Foundation is available from its website.)

 

So please dig deep and donate now.

 

Many thanks in advance for your time and support!

 

Aaron

 

(PS If you are looking for some inspiration to take up cycling yourself and get that heart working, this is a good place to start!)