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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

A fantastic achievement once, let alone twice! Donation by Chris Edwards 02/08/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Simply the Best. Donation by Neil Witherow 02/08/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Real heroes of the Tour Donation by Jon Roebuck 01/08/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done - I found out through a BBC News Website Item Donation by Jonathan Rowney 31/07/07  

£11.00 + £3.10 Gift Aid

Well done Pete and all the guys. What an inspirational effort! Donation by Pete Sadler 31/07/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

I've just finished Lands End to John o'Groats by bike, but that's nothing compared to doing the Tour Donation by Tim Illston 30/07/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Good Luck Geoff, you are still a legend Donation by Dave Burchell 30/07/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Donation by Simon Jamieson 30/07/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

good luck geoff Donation by wolves 29/07/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

well done fella's you are top blokes Donation by steven roebuck 29/07/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Geoff Still my Hero - good luck Donation by DarrenCPFC 28/07/07  

£30.00 + £8.46 Gift Aid

Outstanding Effort, Outstanding Cause, Outstanding Person. Donation by Mark Spittle 28/07/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Keep up the good work skipper ! Donation by bellboy 28/07/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

There is a better side to the Tour de France - well done - come on you Eagles Donation by Bob Smith 27/07/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Brilliant effort Geoff and friends. Best wishes all the way to Paris. Donation by Damian Kelly 27/07/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Keep on Geoff. Hope it's going well, all best, Ian Donation by Ian Preece 27/07/07  

£40.00 + £11.28 Gift Aid

Totally inspiring Donation by Jonathan Hinks 27/07/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Good Luck Geoff from Richard and all at BI! Donation by Richard 27/07/07  

£250.00 + £70.51 Gift Aid

Donation by anonymous 26/07/07  

£100.00 + £28.21 Gift Aid

Well done Donation by FrenchDuck 26/07/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Truly inspirational Donation by Gareth Davies 26/07/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Well done Andrew Robson Donation by Ben Linstead 26/07/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Fantastic at Palace, now fantastic in France - Go Geoff! Donation by Alan Brett 26/07/07  

£20.00 + £5.64 Gift Aid

Thank goodness there is now a british version of Livestrong! Donation by Lee Dow 25/07/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Amazing effort by you all. Well done. Donation by Matt Hall 25/07/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

GEOFF SUPER HUMAN EFFORT AGAIN THANKS AGAIN FOR LIVERPOOL Donation by GRAHAM DUNNING 25/07/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid

Donation by Richard Cottrell 25/07/07  

£5.00 + £1.41 Gift Aid

Well done so far. Good luck for the remainder of the Tour. Donation by JeanieB 25/07/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

All the very best on this great challenge Donation by Warren Tomlinson 25/07/07  

£10.00 + £2.82 Gift Aid

Best of luck - such a great cause Donation by David Tucker 25/07/07  

£50.00 + £14.10 Gift Aid
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