Back in December 2007 Le Mead was created after our close friend Steve Mead was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of Leukaemia, Acute Adult Lymphoblastic Leukaemia. A 24hr driving challenge was completed by Team Le Mead and £8000-00 was raised for Leukeamia Research. This year Team Le Mead returned this time doing the hard work themselves!

Swapping cars for road bikes Matt Crouch and Chris Thomas will be cycling from London to Paris in just three days!

Team Le Mead has joined teams with the Geoff Thomas Foundation charity and on June 25 2009 we set out on a 3 day 330 mile cycling challenge riding from London to Paris (http://www.londres-paris.com/)

This huge ‘pro-am’ event is listed as one of the 25 most prestigious international sporting events and covers 520km and we finished on the famous Champs d’Elysee at the Eiffel Tower on June 27

The challenge was set as inspiration for Steve to return to fitness after undergoing chemotherapy, radiotherapy and a bone marrow donor transplant after contracting ‘ALL’ in 2007. However after entering remission in December 2008 Steve received the devastating news that the Leukaemia returned in March 2009 and Chris then took Steve's saddle to Paris.

Despite battling so hard Steve unfortunately lost his brave battle in May 2009. We are gutted but this is all the motivation we need to complete the challenge.

  The foundation was created by former England international footballer Geoff Thomas. Geoff was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia in 2003. After a lengthy battle he went into remission in 2005 and decided to take up cycling and has since completed a number of fundraising events to in a bid for his charity to raise £20 million in 5yrs. The charity is aimed at transferring life saving medication that is held up in science labs around the world direct to hospitals to help fellow sufferers of cancer. The money will help fund doctors, nurses and build medical centres and will go a long long way to save lives that are currently being lost just like Steve's. (http://www.geoffthomasfoundation.org/)

Whats Next? On Sunday 2nd August Team Le Mead are inviting everyone to join us on a 12.5 mile walk from Luton to Flitwick! So come and get involved and get physical with us at 11am on Sunday morning and celebrate an amazing summer of Le Mead fundraising!  Email LEMEAD@HOTMAIL.COM for your sponsorship and add to the amazing Le Mead total this year!

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