Charles Whitfield
Charlie Rides the Etape du Tour for TLF
Fundraising for The Lily Foundation
Story
Here we go again: http://www.justgiving.com/charlierides4lily2011
l'Etape du Tour 2010:
In 2010 the Tour celebrates the centenary of the first stages through the Pyrenees and so the stage selected for this year's Etape was always going to be in the Pyrenees: the Col de Marie Blanche (big), the Col id Soulor (bigger) and a finish atop the Col de Tourmalet (biggest). It's a giant stage: 181 kilometres and 4000 metres of vertical gain.
Epilogue, 10th of August
It's just over 3 weeks since I completed the Etape. It was the hardest thing I have ever taken part in! Will I do it again? Og yes, next year is a definite! Thank you again for all the sponsorship, I'm very grateful and your money is going to a great cause.Cheers! CAWLast word, 15th of July
All prep done now. Setting off tomorrow at the crack of dawn...follow me on Facebook.
Update, 1st of July:
A little over 2 weeks to go. The Dragon Ride is behind me and showed that I'm on course, fitness wise: 120 miles and over 3000 metres of gain in 8:25. I finished with loads left so was very happy. This Sunday is my last long ride before 2 weeks of tapering, we're riding an L2B2L (London to Brighton to London) with the Kingston Wheelers.
On track!
Update, 12th of April:Just back from Morocco and a week's riding in the High Atlas. Our days were comparatively short but we got in some big climbs including the Tizi n'Test and Oukaimeden (the latter a 28km ramp with 1800 metres of gain to a final altitude of 2650 metres). Legs felt good!Next stop: a series if UK sportives (large, long endurance events)Update, 15th of March:
I've just completed the South West Road Club's "Spring Onion" 100 kilo sportive, my first event of the season. Quite hilly but it's hard to picture the Etape route when this season opener is a little over half the distance and one third of the vertical gain. A good start though, especially given that it took place the morning after the Lily Foundation Ball (where we saw another £70,000 handed over to the gene research unit ay Guys & Saint Tom's)!
About the Lily Foundation:
Once again I am raising money to help The Lily Foundation in its aim to find a cure for Mitochondrial Disaese. To reach this goal the Lily Foundation has a three-point mission: fund research, train doctors and support families with sick children. To date the Lily Foundation has handed over more than £100,000 and it aims to donate a total of £400,000 to fund a gene research unit Guy's and Saint Tomas' Hospital.
Mitochondrial Disease isn't something you catch, it's something you're born with. It is incurable, is often deadly and many of its victims are children and babies, just like Lily Merritt.
We began to support The Lily Foundation because we know Lily's family. Abby is now a director of the charity so we're more involved than ever. Let me assure you that you can be 100% confident that this is a very worthy cause run by highly committed people who are determined to make a difference. I am absolutely certain that money you donate will be well spent and will ultimately make somebody's life better.
About JustGiving:
Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor us: The Lily Foundation will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer and select the options to use Gift Aid, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you!
I hope you will sponsor me and I'll let you know how things are progressing on my personal road to the Col du Tourmalet.