Lonely ride to Paris

[Sir Trev]

No, not me but my slightly mad daughter.

Signing up for her uni's team for the London to Paris cycle ride in July daughter dearest was confused at the lack of updates, until she found by accident that she is a team of... one. She still needs to get to a certain amount of sponsorship however or she will not be able to take part.

Breast Cancer Now is a very worthwhile charity and something close to us, as several people in our close family have suffered with or lost their lives to it. I'm sure some of you are unfortunately in a similar situation.

Here is a link to Joan's Just Giving page. If you can make even a small donation it would be very greatfully received and will go to a great cause.

https://www.justgiving.com/joanltpbikeride/

Sir T.

I will throw in a donation on pay day.


I once carried a kitchen sink across Europe and up to the summit of the highest mountain in North Africa, all for charity. While a lot of it was good fun I now understand the organisation and hard work behind it.


I was scheduled to cycle from Cardiff to Amsterdam the next year but ruptured my knee ligaments 6 days before the trip. That was awkward...

[carelesschucca]

Once I get the money back from my Sportive that didn't happen. I'll get on giving to this...

[Balky001]

Best of luck to her.

[Red Herring]

Sir Trev,
Please forgive me if this appears a little out of order but saying she needs to raise a "minimum sponsorship" before being allowed to take part suggests the organisers take their cut before what is left goes to the charity people believe they are supporting.

If that's not the case, and she pays for the support quite separately herself then please forgive me, but then why do the organisers care how much she raises for charity?

Please don't think I'm against what she is doing, I gave up two months of my time last summer to support a relation of mine who cycled the length of Europe (4,012 miles to be precise) in aid of charity. He raised just over £3k in sponsorship, every penny of which was donated to the two charities he was supporting, yet between us we put out hands in our pockets to the tune of about £5,000 to cover fuel, ferries, food etc etc..... not to mention the 7,500 miles I put on my camper van......

I'm not trying to rubbish what your daughter is doing, on the contrary I have the utmost respect and support for any individual who gets off their bum and sets off on personal challenges such as these, but I do have an issue with these professional organisers who make a killing out of charging ridiculous rates to "support" them in the name of charity. If you google London to Paris organised ride you will see that they typically charge between £500 and £700 per person for this trip. Well I can take my camper across to Paris and back for under £400 and support four riders whilst doing so, so that's £100 a head....... £150 tops if you want to make a trip of it and cover the distance over several days instead of in one hit.

[Sir Trev]

Let me put your mind at rest RH - the minimum sponsorship amount is to stop freeloaders taking advantage of the support team and logistical help, such as the Eurostar home, for an easy jolly. These guys are offering internships and all sorts of other incentives to young people to get involved so it's no scam or cream-off operation.

Thanks for the support folks.

[Red Herring]

Thanks Sir T, does seem a bit of a shame that she can't get anyone else to make up a team with her. Is it an inter university thing or is it open to the general public? Who's organising it?

[Sir Trev]

Most uni's have a RAG group that organise charity events like this. They partner with a specialist management company that book the hotels and return travel.

Thanks for looking all.

[maviczap]

Just waiting for pay day for this Sir Trev.

I would love to do London to Paris, but I've always been put off by the amount of sponsorship needed to register.

Good on your daughter