Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. Please dig deep and sponsor me online. How much can you help? As some of you already know, I am embarking on a major challenge this summer to raise money for good causes by riding the entire course of the 2008 Tour de France. The route will see me tackle some of the toughest mountain passes in Europe taking in the Pyrenees and Alps. I aim to complete all 21 stages of the 3,500 kilometers in a similar number of days as the event proper, starting on the 03rd July from Brest in Brittany some 2 days ahead of the actual Tour de France which finishes on the Champs Elysees, Paris Sunday 27th July. Two main charities form the basis for fundraising: - British Heart Foundation (BHF) - The BHF needs to spend £190 every two minutes of every day on life-saving heart research. Why? Because every two minutes someone has a heart attack. All funds raised through your support of this challenge will help ensure the BHF can continue its essential work on life saving research. BHF has a strong association with cycling events and is formally backing this event. -Association of Young People with M.E. (AYME)- It is a national, award-winning registered charity dedicated to providing support and information to the estimated 25,000 young people living with M.E./CFS in the UK and their families. Membership is free for children and young people with M.E. aged 5 to 25 years.It is estimated that across all age groups some 250,000 people in the UK are affected by this devastating illness. Severe and debilitating fatigue for years, painful muscles and joints, disordered sleep, food intolerance, poor memory and concentration are just some of the symptoms. Find out more about M.E. and the Association of Young People with M.E. at http://www.ayme.org.uk. M.E. changes people's lives drastically, (I should know having experienced it myself as a teenager recovering after a long period of rehabilitation in my mid-twenties) though many can remain amazingly cheerful and positive throughout. Those affected can miss out on so much: school, holidays, relationships - simple things that we all take for granted such as having the energy to stand in the shower, drinking through a straw, eating and even talking can be daily struggles. The scale of the funds raised depends largely on YOUR support. For example, even donating just *£21 (only £1 per stage) will make a real difference. ACT NOW! THANK YOU! *All the profits from the funds raised after expenses will be split equally between AYME and BHF charities.
