Raised: 153%
Target: £500.00
Raised so far: £763.00
Donate now

My story

 

Wow!   I did it.  I completed a stage of the Tour de France, and I've also raised hundreds of pounds for charity.  I'm chuffed to bits - but don't let that stop you if you've turned up late to sponsor me.  This website will still accept cash from all you latecomers / tightwads out there until September.  Dig deep, it's still a good cause and I really did go to hell and back.

What was it like?  Gruesome, terrible, agonising, fantastic.  117 miles is a very long way.  The mountains were higher, steeper and longer than I'd expected.  It was scorching hot (35ºC) as well.  The route and the heat took a heavy toll.  7,500 people started, and over 1,500 failed to complete the course - many of them collapsing at the side of the road.  It was carnage.

It took me 8.5 hours to complete the route.  That's 4 hours to the top of the first mountain (Col d'Izoard); then another 1.5 hours to the top of the second (Col de Lautaret); followed by just under 1.5 hours (1:28 to be exact) up the legendary 21 hairpins of Alpe d'Huez.  The remaining time was the fun bit - tearing down mountain passes at 40 - 50mph.

Raising money for charity really did help to spur me on.  There was a point on Alpe d'Huez when I was close to cracking and packing in.  I was suffering really badly, and all I could do was ride to the end of the next white line in the road;  then the next one; and the one after that.  Bit by bit I drove myself onwards and upwards.  The thought that my exertions were for a good cause really did keep me going - corny, I know, but true.  If you want to hear more of the gory details, and more about the event, check out the articles at www.roadcyclinguk.com.

When I set a fundraising target of £500 I thought I was being hopeleslly optimistic, but I'd reckoned without everyone's support and generosity.  Now that we've beaten it I was thinking about raising the target, but I reckon that would be cheeating - so don't let the fact that we're over-achieving hold you back.  Your cash can still save lives.

The charity I'm supporting, Médecins Sans Frontières, is an independent charity providing medical aid all over the world - whether it's for the 2 million refugees in Darfur, treating the cholera outbreak in Angola, or vaccinating kids against infectious diseases in Indonesia.  You can find out more about MSF via their website, www.msf.org.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Médecins Sans Frontières UK will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Many thanks for your support.

Jim

(impressed!) Donation by David Tudor 24/08/06  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Anon, PML 18/08/06  

£20.00

Ol' Kevlar Legs comes through, eh? Well done Jim. Donation by Gareth 03/08/06  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Well done! :-) Donation by Linda D 03/08/06  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done Jim. Sorry i'm a bit late but I thought that I would sponsor you at a penny a mile! Donation by Ian 01/08/06  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

easy peasy Donation by fishface 28/07/06  

£10.01 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Wow, Phil wants to do it too now, luckily we got your email too late! Sense of achievement or what! Donation by Erica n Phil 25/07/06  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Amazing achievement! Donation by Ulli 23/07/06  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

sorry its late been on holiday. you must be (have been)nuts! Donation by martyn boyce 17/07/06  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Nutter! Donation by Ali and Neill Clague 17/07/06  

£20.00

Well done Jim! Donation by Laura 15/07/06  

£3.00 + £0.85 Gift Aid

Very well done Donation by Lucy Kay 14/07/06  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Well done ! Donation by Mark Diamond 13/07/06  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Congratulations on making it to the end. Now I know you really are mad! Donation by Angela Moffat 13/07/06  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

cheeky git. Donation by "Anonymous" 13/07/06  

£4.99 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Sorry this is late Jim. You are amazing and hope it went well. lol Charlie Donation by Charlie 13/07/06  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Enjoy - and see you on the Fred Whitton next year! Donation by Chris Lumb 12/07/06  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Makes Hard Knott look simple! See you soon Donation by Dave C 12/07/06  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck, you mad crazy fool you! Donation by Helen Greig 12/07/06  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

The very best of luck Donation by Ron 11/07/06  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

The world is made more colourful by sane people doing mad things! All power to your elbow (& knees) Donation by Paul Gilliland 11/07/06  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

All the best! Donation by Barry and Jo 10/07/06  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Don't forget to enjoy the views! Donation by Gordon, Chrissy & Benson. 10/07/06  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good Luck Jim! I'd rather ski back down... Donation by Martin Attrill 10/07/06  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Have fun you mad man - hope it is not too painful! Donation by Alison, Steve and Anna Robinson 10/07/06  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Thinking of you today! Will offer to massage your tired legs upon your return. Be careful! Donation by Sam Davis 10/07/06  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Mark Funnell 10/07/06  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Good luck boss - just imagine all your friends are waiting at the top of the mountain!! x Donation by Elisa Henson 09/07/06  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

it'll be easy!! Donation by Neil "Alpe d'Huez" Weatherley 09/07/06  

£15.00 + £4.23 Gift Aid

Life is just an up hill struggle, Keep on peddlin Donation by KINGFISHER SEAFOODS LTD (Rob & Omar) 08/07/06  

£50.00
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* Total raised online: £763.00
  Offline donations: £0.00
  Gift Aid plus supplement: £170.08

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Find out how much it is and what we do for it.