The U.K. Cycle Show in London this week will feature several charity organisations promoting themselves in different ways.
Action Medical Research is the official charity for the show and they will be offering the press a Parisian breakfast on Thursday 13th October (press and trade day). The charity will be looking for people to sign up to its London to Paris bike ride - the only charity ride that ends in the French capital in time for the Tour de France. Action Medical Research is funding research into many serious diseases and conditions, including premature birth, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, osteoporosis, sickle cell disease, Parkinson's disease and stroke.
Former politician Edwina Currie will also be at the show on behalf of her chosen charity Marie Curie Cancer Care - a charity that provides care to around 25,000 cancer patients and their families, free of charge, every year. A keen cyclist, Edwina will be encouraging people to join her in Marie Curie's Great 500 ride, through which the charity is hoping to raise £1million.
The Great 500 ride is made up of five routes each starting in a different European city and ending in Warsaw, Poland. 500 people will take part and Edwina and her husband will be cycling from Vilnius in Lithuania to the finish in Warsaw.
Leukaemia Research will be represented at the show by former England footballer and current cycle star Geoff Thomas. Having suffered from the disease himself the charity is close to Geoff's heart. The sports star will be taking part in the TRI UK celebrity duathlon on Friday, October 14, alongside athlete Iwan Thomas, cyclist Rob Sharman, trials champion Ben Slinger, rugby player Phil Greening and former Olympic cyclist Bryan Steel. They will be cycling 6km on a stationary bike before taking to the treadmill for a 2km slog - pitching their respective fitness levels against each other to reign as the show champion.
All of the sports stars will be at the show on Friday allowing visitors the chance to meet some of their sporting heroes.
The Cycle Show takes place at ExCel in London between October 14-16 for visitors and for press and trade on Thursday, October 13. Tickets cost £12 on the door and £10 if you book in advance and kids go for a quid with a paying adult.
More information: www.cycleshow.co.uk
