John Pullicino
John Pullicino's Fundraising Page
Fundraising for Project Gem
Story
Am very pleased to tell you that I finished the 170km course in 8 hours and 36 minutes, beating the sweeper wagon by 1 hour and 20 minutes (and not walking any of it). It was a long long day and the two mountains were hard graft, especially the last one having already gone 150km.
Thank you very much very very much for all the support both in terms of encouragement and for the donations, it is really appreciated.
Proof of shaved legs and use of lycra can be seen in the new photo. The weather was pretty awful, raining the whole day. It was 2 degrees at the top of the Tourmalet mountain which is an interesting experience when you are essentially wearing something similar to a 1920's swimming costume.
All the best and thank you once again
John
Etape Du Tour 2008
I will be competing in this year's Etape du Tour (the amateur race of the Tour de France).
I am not a particular fan of 1) exercise that doesn't involve chasing after a ball, 2) shaving my legs and 3) wearing lycra. I am also definitely not a fan of doing exercise that involves travelling uphill for extended periods whilst sitting on a saddle which is not, despite its claim, designed to be sat on for anything other than a trip to the shops.
...but I am willing to do this in the name of a good cause....Project Gem.
I worked with Project Gem in the Baixa da Egua center in Salvador, Brazil and have seen first hand the importance and worth of the projects supported by Gem.
The Etape du Tour is the stage of the Tour de France open to amateurs and will involve me cycling in a 169 kilometer road race through the Pyrenees in the required time of under nine and a half hours.
The race runs over two mountains. The first is a 23 kilometer climb up the famous Tourmalet (2115 meters high) and the second is a 15 kilometer climb up to Hautacam (1635m). To make it more complicated the race is against the clock, if you are too slow you get "swept" and have to give up your bike.
The training is punishing but hopefully I am on track. I am currently putting in about 2 hours a day and doing 100 kilometer rides on the weekends, all building up to what will be a long day on the bike in July in up to 40 degree heat.
www.letapedutour.com/2008/ETDT/presentation/us/parcours.htm
N.B donations to this page do not in any way contribute to or fund my participation in the race. I will be paying for my own entry fee, flights and accommodation. All money raised will go to Project Gem's work in the UK and Brazil.
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Project Gem 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.
So please sponsor me now!
Many thanks for your support.
John