I would say I like a challenge. Some would say that turning 40 has triggered a resolve to prove continuing youth. Regardless, I will be participating in La Marmotte on Sunday, 8 July. For those of you not aware of La Marmotte, it is one of the oldest sportives in the cycling calendar and described as "still the ultimate cycling test". More particularly, it is a 175km spin on two wheels (no motor power) in the Alps taking in the iconic climbs of the Col de Glandon, Col du Telegraphe, Col du Galibier with a final roll up to the finish in Alpe d'Huez. In all there is 5500m of climbing and the vagaries of the weather to overcome (snow showers are currently forecast at the top of the Galibier!).

It is not a challenge taken lightly and I have been training hard these past six months to get the legs in good shape to summit this particular mountain (or four of them...). I feel ready to go and just need to hold my nerve not to overdo it early on (either by going too fast up the first  couple of climbs or overfuelling with lager on Saturday afternoon watching England in the World Cup quarter-final).

I would very much appreciate your support for undertaking this challenge. I am riding for a small registered charity called Andi's Gift. This charity was set-up in memory of our friend Andrea White who sadly passed away after a short battle with an aggressive form of cancer. The charity aims to provide treasured memories, in small ways, for terminally ill hospice patients and their families. Andi’s Gift currently supports the Greenwich & Bexley Community Hospice which is where Andrea stayed for the last few months of her life. The hospice and its patients are extremely appreciative of the support Andi’s Gift provides and your support of this challenge will be invaluable to enable it to  continue its activities. More details can be found here:

https://www.facebook.com/andisgift/

Thank you very much in advance for your generosity. Wish me luck!

Simon

Donating  through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.