Banner Business Services in Basingstoke are supporting the Piam Brown Ward in Southampton throughout 2010.

This wonderful ward treats children up to the age of 18 who are diagnosed with all types of childhood cancer.

In support of this worthwhile cause and to help raise funds, on Thursday May 27 Mark Draper and Mike Anderson drove 660 miles to Bourg D'Oisans in the heart of the French Alps to spend 3 days cycling up (and down!) some of the highest mountains in Europe on roads that the Tour de France visits every year.

They camped in a small village called Allemont which is near the foot of Alpe D'Huez and we intend to ride between 50-70 miles a day.

Mike had visited and ridden in this area many times, but was the first time for Mark who wanted to celebrate his 50th birthday by riding up Alpe D'Huez accompanied by Mike (strange but true!).

The routes for the 3 days of riding included 3 of the highest Cols (mountains) in the area in Alpe D'Huez (height - 1815m  length - 13.2k), Col du Galibier (height - 2642m - length 34.9k) and the Col de Croix de Fer (height - 2064m - length 27.53k). Considering that neither of them are exactly slim racing snakes or in the first flush of youth (in fact their ages will total 102), these rides are going to be very tough with a degree of suffering only tempered by the exhilaration of reaching the top and seeing the amazing views and they thought that it could also be an opportunity to raise some money for the Piam Brown Ward charity that the Basingstoke office is supporting in 2010.

So please dig deep and help us support this worthwhile charity.