Muscle Warriors raise > £8900 for charity
"I know that their cycle ride included a colossal vertical ascent in excess of 11,000 metres requiring all of their legs muscles to work inordinately hard. The charity is hugely proud of both their physical efforts in cycling an incredible distance over five days but also their spectacular fundraising efforts!" said the charity’s co-founder Michael McGrath, himself a sufferer of muscular dystrophy and the first and only disabled person in the world to have reached both theNorth and South Poles.
Pictured above are: Mark Pinsent, Mark Hennessy, MHF Trustee Chris Kelly and Jean-Luc Harnay. Below are the key achievements of their journey:
- Average distance cycled per day: +140kms
- 21 hairpin corners taken on the way up to the Alpe d’Huez standing at 1,815 metres
- Scaled the dizzy heights of the mighty Col du Galibier at 2,646 metres (highest peak of the Tour de France)
- Reached the mighty Mont Ventoux at 1,912 metres described by Kelly as ‘the most feared, revered and respected climb’ of the Tour de France
Some excerpts below from a commentary of their experience give an insight into how much pain was endured and evidently how much fun was had by all ... written by Muscle Warrior™ Kelly:
According to Cycling Weekly, there are several reasons why Mont Ventoux is a symbolic climb. We know our cycling trio of Muscle Warriors possess an indomitable spirit, so what’s all the fuss about, after all it’s only a mountain!Mont Ventoux dominates the Provence skyline – it stands alone. Whichever direction you approach from, you cannot fail but to be impressed by its awesome scale.
- The mountain has its own micro-climate – the summit is 1,909 metres above sea level. It’s exposed, it can be incredibly windy and when it’s hot and still, it can be unbelievably, stiflingly oppressive.
- It’s a climb two halves – partly tree-lined in one moment to barren and rocky. If bike racing existed on the moon, this is what it would be like!
- The Pantani-Armstrong duel in 2000 – the day when the Italian climber and the Texan cowboy rode away from the rest. Armstrong was only interested in winning the Tour and so at the finish, he allowed Pantani to cross the line ahead of him!
- Eros Poli's lone break in 1994 – having developed a commanding lead, the big Italian was cheered all the way up the climb to the summit of Mont Ventoux and then descended all the way back down the other side of the mountain to win the stage!
- Despite its great reputation, Mont Ventoux has not figured on the Tour route as regularly a some of the other legends. In fact, the 2009 Tour was just the 14th visit!
- Mont Ventoux bows to no man – Lance Armstrong's trademark Tour move was choosing his moment to attack and then ride off into the distance, often winning the race with one six or seven-kilometre set piece effort. He has never quite mastered Mont Ventoux, even going as far to say it was his least favourite climb!
About Muscle Warriors™
Muscle Warriors™ are those generous-hearted people who use for example the power of sport to engage, inspire and raise vital funds – Muscle Warriors™ run across deserts, cycle colossal distances, do triathlons as well as events called GRIM, climb mountains and participate in all sorts of crazy activities to enable Muscle Dreams™ to happen. Muscle Warriors™ are also those individuals afflicted by this remorseless, cruel and unforgiving disease, whose muscles are broken and wasting away, who have to battle 24/7 every single day, where life is an unrelenting fight, eased only by those who care tirelessly and love unconditionally, mums and dads, uncles and aunties, brothers and sisters – all of them Muscle Warriors™.
About Muscle Dreams™
Muscle Dreams™ are amazing experiences designed to help children and young people in the UK whose lives are afflicted by the muscle-wasting disease, muscular dystrophy (MD), the opportunity to live a dream, or perhaps fulfil a cherished ambition.
Muscular Dystrophy is the single biggest genetic killer of children in our world today. With some 75,000 UK sufferers being robbed of their mobility, independence and finally for those with the most severe form known as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) their lives, the charity delivers experiences for people directly affected by this debilitating disease.
These can cost anywhere between £250 to for example £5000 – The Muscle Help Foundation (MHF) is unable to fund every single Muscle Dream™ nomination received.
How can my company get involved?
If you or your company would like to either help us raise further funds so we can deliver more Muscle Dreams™ or perhaps sponsor s specific Muscle Dream™ or offer resources (people) with skills and/or time in helping the charity to scale up its operational capability, you can contact us via email or phone us directly on +44 (0) 1763 274658
From the press office of The Muscular Help Foundation
Registered Charity No. 1096716
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