850miles – over 59,000ft climb – 26 F1 fans – 8 days
This is ride2monaco – a group of 26 F1 fan-come-cyclists taking on an epic cycling challenge for charity. They are raising funds and awareness for five worthy causes by cycling 850 miles in 8 days, from Silverstone to Monaco, arriving in time for the Formula 1 Monaco Grand Prix 2016.
Starting with a lap of Silverstone Circuit in Towcester on Friday 20th May 2016, Team ride2monaco will cycle to Portsmouth, take an overnight ferry to Caen then cycle across France to Monaco, taking on four of the toughest Alps climbs en-route.
Having received humbling success with their previous events, ride2spa in 2012 and ride2monza in 2014, ride2monaco 2016 is the third part of an epic trilogy which has so far raised more than £45,000 for worthy causes.
The five charities supported are Anthony Nolan, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Cancer Research UK, MIND and the MS Trust, charities close to the heart of every member of the team.
raised more than £45,000 for worthy causes
Event organiser, Rich Tindale, was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in 2007 and started on a weekly injection of Beta Inteferon to slow the progression of the disease. Rich said…
“The medication is working well, and in between relapses I’ve successfully cycled from London to Paris in 2008 and completed ride2spa and ride2monza, with ride2monaco being my 4th cycling challenge in 8 years. I don’t know if setting these challenges keeps my MS at bay, but after I was diagnosed, I wasn’t expecting to be cycling 9 years on. It won’t be easy by any means, but I’m still proving to myself that a diagnosis of MS doesn’t necessarily mean the end of an active lifestyle.”
Where it’s all began
Following the London to Paris cycle ride in 2008, Rich wanted to take things a step further and organise his own event, encompassing two loves in his life, cycling and Formula 1. But Si, his cycling partner, had received some devastating news.
“While we were organising ride2spa in 2012, my best friend Simon’s new born son, Jasper was diagnosed with Leukaemia, so we made the decision to support charities which had helped Simon, his wife Anya and his family through an extremely difficult time,” explains Rich.
“Jasper received a bone marrow transplant at Birmingham Children’s Hospital in March 2012, and when we rode to Spa, he was in remission and looking really well. Tragically, his Leukaemia returned in August 2013, and after fighting for so long, Jasper lost his bravely fought battle on 14 October 2013.”
Support team ride2monaco
With this in mind, the group’s efforts have taken on new significance and they are keen to create as much buzz around ride2monaco as possible and to raise money and awareness for their chosen charities and the thousand of people they support.
You can follow Team ride2monaco LIVE from 20th May 2016 at ride2monaco.com. As well as information about the route, the team and the five worthy causes they support, online donations can be made on the website too.
Look out for the ride2monaco banner on TV, they did it at Monza!
