On Sunday 28th June, led by Rugby World Cup winner Mike Tindall MBE, a team of sporting icons will unite for the ‘Raid Local’ cycle challenge in support of The Cure Parkinson’s Trust (CPT).
With the cancellation of CPT’s six-day ‘Raid Alpine’ fundraising cycle challenge, a COVID-safe version has been organised. This lets participants take on the first day of the challenge – covering 137km in distance and 3,700m of ascent – either in their local area or at home on virtual cycling platform Zwift.
To put this into context, 3700m is the ascent from Mt Everest Base Camp to the Summit. The team will be doing all that, on a bike, in one day.
While Mike Tindall, who was due to take part in the ‘Raid Alpine’, will tackle this challenge on the hills of Gloucestershire, his team of celebrity stars will lead the virtual ‘Raid Local’ on Zwift. This will involve identical distances and ascents, split into three consecutive stages. The team includes:
- Olympic and World Champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy (leading stage 1)
- Ex-English Rugby International Austin Healey (leading stage 2)
- Ex-Welsh Rugby International and World Rugby Player of the Year 2008 Shane Williams MBE (leading stage 3)
- Rugby World Cup winner Iain Balshaw MBE (sweeper across all 3 stages)
The team will also be joined by:
- Olympic skeleton racing Gold Medallist 2010 Amy Williams MBE
- Professional golfer and seven-time Ryder Cup winner Lee Westwood OBE
- TV and radio broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher
The Raid Local team note that, with over one million users, Zwift allows remote cyclists to connect with others in the virtual world and ride together. The Cure Parkinson’s Trust (CPT) is offering the unique opportunity to ride virtually alongside the sporting celebrities, with participants being able to ask the celebrity lead riders questions via the in-event messaging facility.
The virtual Raid Local will run at precisely the same time as the ‘Raid Local’ taking place in parallel on local roads throughout the country. The ‘Grand Depart’ around the country and on Zwift, led by Mike and Sir Chris, will be 08:00 BST on 28th June.
To join the unique event on Zwift, CPT is asking for riders to donate £20, or more if they are able, to the charity’s ‘Raid Local’ JustGiving page www.justgiving.com/campaign/RaidLocal
Alternatively, riders can join Mike Tindall riding outdoors, by taking to their local roads and donating or raising money for the charity.
CPT currently faces a large loss of income due to the effects of COVID-19. Donations from Raid Local are needed now, more than ever, for CPT’s work to find a cure for Parkinson’s to continue.
www.cureparkinsons.org.uk/news/raidlocal
