July 4th 2020 will be the 17th anniversary of blood cancer survivor, ex-England footballer and Cure Leukaemia Patron Geoff Thomas's diagnosis with chronic myeloid leukaemia. To mark this milestone, Geoff and Cure Leukaemia had planned GT15. An event which involved participants riding the Tour de France route one day ahead of the professionals. Why not join us in Ribble's ride to raise funds for GT Day? Read on for more details on how you can ride the event while helping this worthwhile cause.
However, with this year's GT15 event, unfortunately, being postponed due to Covid-19, we've teamed up with Cure Leukaemia and Zwift to bring it to a virtual reality instead. In doing so, we hope to help them in their efforts to hit a £1million fundraising target!
GTDAY
The aim of the new 'Ride to Raise Funds for GTDay' event is to bring potentially thousands of cyclists across the world together, with the aim of raising funds and awareness for Cure Leukaemia.
The funds raised will be invested directly into the national Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP) network. Allowing blood cancer patients, from an increased catchment area of over 20 million people, access to potentially life-saving treatments through clinical trials.
So whats involved?
We've created two challenging Zwift routes for the Geoff Thomas Day event. The first; a 25km 'Tour of Fire and Ice' route and an ever so slightly, more strenuous 89.3km 'Four Horsemen' route. Cyclists can take part in the rides on Zwift at 15:00 GMT on Saturday 4th July 2020. To enter, sign up here
The routes in detail:
Ride 1: The Four Horsemen (89km)
- A longer route designed to simulate the elevation that riders participating in the 4th July Tour ride would have experienced.
- Over 2,000m of climbing across all four of the KOM segments in Zwift (Alpe du Zwift, Epic KOM, Volcano KOM, Zwift KOM)
Ride 2: Tour of Fire & Ice (25km)
- A shorter route designed to give riders a strong challenge.
- Over 1,000m of climbing in 12.2km (8% average gradient)
All we ask is for participants to donate a minimum of £21 to the 'Ribble Ride to Raise Funds' JustGiving page which inturn will grant you access to ride your chosen route. All funds raise will go to national blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia.
What's more... all those who donate will be automatically entered into a prize draw to WIN one of these fantastic prizes:
- VIP hospitality for 2 at the final stage of the 2021 Tour de France in Paris.
- A custom colour Ribble bike frame worth £1,000.
- A signed TdF jersey from the winner of the 2021 event, whoever that may be!
- More exciting prizes will be added daily, so get signed up!!
Who is taking part?
You'll be riding virtually alongside Geoff Thomas, Watford F.C goalkeeper Ben Foster, Rebecca Charlton, Laura Winter, the Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling Team and YouTubers Cameron Jeffers and Katie Kookaburra!
Cycling journalist and broadcaster Rebecca Charlton said: “I had the pleasure of meeting Geoff many years ago now and have enjoyed following his inspiring cycling challenges closely ever since; and supporting where possible – it is remarkable what he has achieved since beating blood cancer. This is a brilliant idea from Geoff and Cure Leukaemia to raise funds and awareness during this challenging time we find ourselves in. I will be cycling the ‘Tour of Fire and Ice’ on July 4th and I hope we can encourage cyclists from around the world to join in and ride to raise funds.”
How to get involved?
Head over to this JustGiving page (we're suggesting a £21 minimum donation to mark the 21 stages of the Tour de France but all donations are hugely appreciated).
Once the donation has gone through, you will receive an automated thank you email as well as being redirected to the Zwift event link for you to join the ride of your choice on Saturday 4th July at 15:00.
Whether you are riding the Zwift ride or not, everyone who donates will be entered into a prize draw, to win one of these amazing prizes;
See you there?
So please, get donating, get signed up and get involved in Ribble's ride to raise funds for GTDay and help in the efforts to Cure Leukaemia.
Sign up here
Starting to cycle to work? Check out our top tips for commuting to work by bike here
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling TT ace Jon Archibald talks power, FTP and getting back to racing this season here