From Sun 14 to Sat 20 July 2013, Cycle Challenge on the Route des Grandes Alpes in aid of the Kennedy's Disease Association.
A group of 26 people, complete novices to regular road bikers and hardcore competitors, ride the Route des Grandes Alpes.
The core of the group is from Chamonix: Andy Symington, Matt Edelsten, Andrew Frawley, Andy Eggleston, Guy Willet, Steph Willet, Neil Symonds, James Rainbird, Jason Gregory, Tim Taylor, Sophie Daubeny and Jodie Barson.
La Route des Grandes Alpes
The route begins in Thonon-les-Bains in the Haute-Savoie on the shore of Lake Geneva, and heads South, in Nice on the shore of the Mediterranean sea, passing through three departments: Haute-Savoie, Savoie, Hautes-Alpes and the Alps via 16 climbs: Col de Gets (900m), Col de la Colombière (1613m), Col des Aravis (1486m), Col des Saisies (1432m), Cormet de Roseland (1968m), Col de l'Iseran (2764m), Col du Telegraphe (1566m), Col du Galibier (2646m), Col d'Izoard (2360m), Col du Vars (2109m), Col de la Cayolle (2326m), Valberg (1673m), Col de la Couillole (1678m), Col St Martin (1500m), Col de Turini (1604m) and Col de Castillon (800m).
This is a huge challenge: 7 days and 705km, 16 climbs with 19,750 metres of ascent. The average ascent per day is 2820m giving an average calorie burn of 5000+ kCal per day (for a marathon, a normal person burns 3250 kcal).
The riders hope that others are inspired to take the challenge in the following years and that this year they successfully raise £15,000,00 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
Follow their adventures on www.facebook.com/RGA2013
Kennedy's Disease Raising Awareness - Team GB (KDRA)
This non-profit association works in partnership with the Kennedy's Disease Association based in California, USA to help raise awareness in the UK and support families, carers and patients living with Kennedy's Disease.
The Kennedy’s Disease Association (KDA) financially supports and promotes research to find a treatment or cure for this disease. The KDRA is not yet a UK registered Charity, so all donations initially go to the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA). MNDA have agreed to work closely with KDRA and funds will be transferred to them.
Kennedy's Disease
The scientific name of the disease is "Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy," more commonly known as Kennedy's Disease. This is a rare, currently incurable and non-treatable neuro-muscular disease. Once the disease takes hold, the spinal and bulbar neurons are affected causing muscle weakness and wasting (atrophy) throughout the body. As the disease progresses, the motor neurons begin to die and the muscles waste away. It is a genetic disorder; generally, males with the inherited gene develop the symptoms, while females with it are usually the carriers. The defect is in the ‘X’ Chromosome and it makes testosterone behave like a poison in the patient's body. It is important that KD is correctly diagnosed early in life, so that the chances of it being passed on are reduced. It is a rare disorder (affecting 1 in 40,000) and therefore lacks Government funding.
For Donations
Please donate directly through the website: www.justgiving.com/rga2013
Charity Riders Full Team
Riders: Andy Symington, Matt Edelsten, Jason Gregory, Scott Young, Andrew Frawley, Andy Eggleston, Guy Willet, Steph Willet, Tim Taylor, Neil Symonds, Julian Andrews, Sophie Daubeny, Jodie Barson, John Styles, Phil Jacobs, James Rainbird, Dominic Clark, Cam Fraser, Dean Carter, Kirsty Carter, William Josephson, Ben Wallace, Moray Finlayson, Nick Laing & Alex Wells.
Support Team: Chris Symington, Christine Symington & Barry Fraser.
