On Sunday August 5 Rye Harbour was used as a pit-stop for the practice run of one section of the forthcoming London-to-Paris bike ride. Ben Wright, race leader, stopped to have a chat with me just as the group arrived at the Harbour. He explained that this was a chance to put some of the team through its paces in preparation for the big event in September: this was only a small number of the 175 cyclists who have signed up.
The Bloodwise London to Paris bike ride is billed as the ultimate cycling experience, starting from Eltham Palace in Greenwich on Thursday, September 13 and finishing at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris on Sunday, September 16. The four-day endurance ride gives participants the experience of being a pro-rider, with motorcycle outriders and rolling road closures, as well as an entourage of mechanics, physiotherapists and support vehicles.
The ride is organised by and raises money for the blood cancer research charity Bloodwise. So far 175 people have signed up for this year’s ride and it is hoped the 2018 event will raise £450,000 for Bloodwise. This will be the sixth annual Bloodwise London-to-Paris ride, the first taking place in 2013. People can still sign up by emailing Londonparis@bloodwise.org.uk
Bloodwise is the UK’s specialist blood cancer research charity dedicated to improving the lives of people living with and beyond blood cancer. More than 40,000 people of all ages, from children to adults, are diagnosed with blood cancers and related disorders every year in the UK. It is a complex disease area made up of over 100 individual diseases. Some affect thousands of people, such as common forms of leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Others affect only a handful. But together, blood cancers are the fifth most common form of cancer and the third largest cause of cancer death in the UK.
The charity’s research is targeted at understanding more about blood cancer, finding causes, improving diagnoses and treatments, and running ground-breaking clinical trials for patients. The charity champions patients’ needs by influencing relevant decision-makers and influencers, and seeking to raise awareness of the issues faced by patients. Their patient services provide information, support and assistance to patients at every stage of their journey.
Photo: kt Bruce