Are you wheeling to help?

Dear all

As someone who likes to turn the wheels of my bicycle on the way to work and as a frequent traveller between London and Paris, I have often wondered what it would be like to do my cross channel ‘commute’ by bicycle – making a green way of travel even greener.  I’ve decided to find out.  In the first week of September I plan to cycle unsupported from London to Paris and then, why not, back again.  I will take two different routes.  It will amount to approximately 700-800kms of cycling (pending fine tuning). 

Two of my colleagues (Alexis Gnerro and Quentin Minor) have signed up to join me.

We will be raising money for a marvellous charity called PHAB which takes disabled children on activity holidays that they would otherwise not be able to access.  This is a subject close to my heart: one of my three children, Alexander, suffered a stroke at the age of 6 weeks leaving him with significant physical and mental disabilities.  

PHAB took Alex, who is wheel chair bound, on a week’s activity holiday last year, involving sailing, abseiling, zip wiring and caving, which he absolutely adored. 

Giving disabled children the opportunity to experience such activities requires significant investment and while I was able to contribute to the overall cost of this holiday, many parents of disabled children are not able to do so.  If you would like to make a donation to this charity’s work and allow other disabled children to enjoy the freedom of movement that able-bodied children benefit from, please use this site.  Naturally, all contributions (minus a small Just Giving processing fee) will go to the charity – our very low cost adventures will be self-funded.  

For more information visit www.phab.org.uk

To see photos of the three musketeers and D'Artagnan, plus route maps, click on the image gallery top right of the screen.

Many thanks!

Julian