A team of nine Island cyclists recently completed the gruelling Raid Alpine cycle challenge in France and raised more than ?8,000 for The Children’s Centre. The route, which is one of the most famous and toughest in Europe, starts from Thonon Les Bains on the shores of Lake Geneva and finishes in Antibes on the Mediterranean coast. The 480 mile route saw them climb more than 30 cols, many of which are synonymous with the Tour de France such as the Iseran, Telegraph, Galibier, and the highest paved road in Europe, the Bonnette de Restefond. In total, the group climbed 17,000 metres over six days. The team comprised The Children’s Centre’s Chair of Trustees Mike Gardner, Mike Clough, Rob Quane, Paul Warburton, Phil King, Jason Malone, Bill Shimmins, Gary Quirk, Steve Kelly, and support driver Harry Eastham. They raised a total of ?8,600.34.

Mark Eastham, Adventure Events Co-ordinator at the charity, said: “What this team has achieved is truly amazing, I know they all trained long and hard over the winter to ensure their bodies were in the best possible condition as they knew it was going to be tough, but what they couldn’t train for was the heat. It just so happens that their trip coincided with a heat wave meaning daily temperatures of more than 38 Celsius. It’s hard enough to sit next to a pool in that heat let alone ride a bike of over some of the toughest climbs in Europe. I really do take my hat off to them for what they have achieved, and can’t thank them enough for persevering and helping to raise much needed funds for The Children’s Centre. A big thank you must also go to the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company for their continued support with the cost of travel to off-Island fundraising events, which means that even more money goes directly to projects supporting children and families here on the Island.”

Mike Clough added: “This was a great challenge and undoubtedly one of the hardest cyclist challenges I’ve ever completed. When Mark first described the route to me I knew it was going to be tough but for me, though, the trip wasn’t just about cycling in the mountains but was more about the experience - the opportunity to pass through some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe, to make new friends and at the same time support the work of The Children’s Centre.”

Next year Mark Eastham is keen to repeat the success of the charity’s 2013 Land’s End to John O’Groats (LEJOG) cycle challenge, and wants to hear from anyone interested in taking part in 2016. With two Manx riders (Mark Cavendish and Peter Kennaugh) in this year’s Tour de France he is hoping that LEJOG will attract cyclists who want to tackle another one of the most famous cycling challenges in Europe. He added: “LEJOG is a chance to tick something off your bucket list.”

For more details about the LEJOG event, email Mark Eastham at markeastham@thechildrenscentre.org.im or call 631917.

Photo - Rob Quane flying the Manx flag.