Raised: 30%
Target: £500,000.00
Raised so far: £148,605.09
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My story

 

FOR the second time in three years, Geoff Thomas and his Unity Team undertook one of the most testing challenges in all of professional sport during the summer of 2007 - The Tour de France.

Riding two days behind the actual race, Geoff and his intrepid team mates, including special guest riders such as football legend Ian Wright, attempted to cover the 3,550-kilometre course.

Geoff had successfully completed the route in 2005, raising over £170,000 for Leukaemia Research in the process.

Those efforts were sufficient to win the prestigious BBC Helen Rollason Sports Personality Award and the ringing personal praise of the greatest cyclist to ever live – seven-times Tour winner and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong.

Geoff explained: “I think it’s a well-known story now that when I was being treated for leukaemia, Lance’s book was a huge inspiration for me and led to me riding the Tour in 2005.

“This time, though, there was a slightly different motive. Four of the Unity team are, like me, cancer survivors and I thought it was important to spread the news and show examples of how many brave and inspirational people there are in the cancer community.

“Lance was an inspiration to me and people were kind enough to say I helped inspire them in 2005. Well, these guys should be an inspiration to everyone for what they accomplished and how they did it.”

The 2007 Tour de France started in London, giving the ride a personal feel to Geoff who spent the most successful period of his football career in the capital withCrystalPalace.

The route covered 3,550 kilometres, made up of 11 flat stages, 6 mountain stages, 1 medium mountain stage and 2 individual time-trial stages.  There were 3 mountain finishes, 2 rest days, 117 kilometres of individual time-trials and 21 Category 1, Category 2 and highest level passes.

It also featured some emotional highs and heartbreaking lows for Geoff, the riders and their hard-working support staff.

And you can follow the Unity Team every step of the way by visiting the Taking on Le Tour 2007 pages at www.geoffthomasfoundation.com

Please dig deep and sponsor the Unity Team

Good on you Geoff! Just heard your Five Live interview. Touches many raw nerves. Good luck. Donation by Stevie T 13/06/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Best of luck Mike...An epic challenge !!! Donation by mike ireland 13/06/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Phil, you must be crazy! Good luck! Donation by Steve Barrett 13/06/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Donation by Robert Whistlecroft 12/06/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Now THAT is a bike ride! All the very best to you all Donation by Fraser C 11/06/07  

£30.00

Donation by Leisure Lakes Bikes.com 11/06/07  

£30.00

I will be following your progress, good luck Donation by anonymous 10/06/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Inspirational - enjoy the ride - if possible ! Donation by Ron Feeney 09/06/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Geoff, you gave us so much pride at Palace and now your courage and pride are an inspiration to us a Donation by frank harper 09/06/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Brian Boland 07/06/07  

£20.00

Donation by dave 05/06/07  

£2.75

Donation by jone-zee 05/06/07  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Always PALACE! Donation by Mick 04/06/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Good luck with everything, from John and Jill Pallett Donation by John Pallett 04/06/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck! Donation by Paul Harper 02/06/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Donation by Matt Ryley 01/06/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Pete, good luck, have fun Donation by Jonny C 01/06/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Pete, no sitting at the back all day! Good luck. Donation by Iain Walker 31/05/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Good Luck Pete - See you in October Donation by Alan Miller 31/05/07  

£100.00

Donation by Lisa Aldridge 31/05/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Good luck to Mike Grisenthwaite our local lad Donation by Carol from Stratford-upon-Avon 28/05/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck Phil! Donation by Kirsty Barrett 25/05/07  

£10.00

Chamois cream at the ready! Good luck Mike, Phill and the whole team. Donation by Adrian 22/05/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

I just had to be the 1st! We'll be thinking of you all the way, go boys. Donation by Matt & Ulrika Ford 22/05/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid
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