Back in the saddle Rugby star Mike joins ride to raise cash for charity
AWOMAN diagnosed with Parkinson’s is set to take on a mammoth cycling challenge with former Gloucester Rugby player Mike Tindall.
Alison Anderson was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s five years ago, aged 46. Despite the difficulties that come with the neuro-degenerative condition, Alison was set to take on her third extraordinary cycle challenge since her diagnosis: the legendary Raid Alpine in support of The Cure Parkinson’s Trust.
Raid Alpine would have seen Alison ride some of the Alps’ most fearsome climbs, with many made famous by the Tour de France.
However, coronavirus restrictions means that the challenge in its usual format is not possible.
In a new and adapted version of the Raid challenge, Alison, from Cheltenham, and her husband, plus a team of more than 50 cyclists will set off independently from various locations around the UK, France and beyond on Sunday, June 28, to tackle what would have been the toughest day on the Raid Alpine ride.
They will cover more than 137km and climb an incredible 3,700m of vertical ascent – but rather than the Alps, they’ll be doing this around their own neighbourhoods.
Alison said: “Exactly five years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, it feels fantastic to think it might be possible for me to complete a challenge as physically demanding as The Raid Local.
“It will be great to put months of training to the test. It’s exciting to be doing the challenge locally, although we do have some extremely tough hills in Gloucestershire.
“However challenging it might be, it’s nowhere near as challenging as living with Parkinson’s.
“I am delighted to raise funds and awareness for The Cure Parkinson’s Trust, who focus on much-needed research into treatments that have the potential to be life-changing for those of us living with Parkinson’s.”
Alison is no stranger to an extreme cycle challenge, having cycled with her team from Vietnam to Cambodia in 2017, and from Land’s End to John O’groats in 2018.
So far, the group of 20 have raised more than £50,000 for CPT and in 2017, Alison was recognised as the charity’s Fundraiser of the Year.
Will Cook, CPT chief executive, said: “I had been training for months for The Cure Parkinson’s Trust’s Raid Alpine when it was cancelled. But Raid Local may turn out to be an even tougher challenge: climbing 3,700m vertical in the UK will not be easy.”
Alison and Will met with charity patron Mike Tindall yesterday for a training ride around Gloucestershire ahead of the main event.
All Raid Local cyclists have been tasked to map out their own routes and asked to follow social distancing measures at all times.
Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ Alison-anderson31 to donate.
If you would like to take on your own challenge, visit www.cureparkinsons. org.uk/news/raidlocal or contact grace@cureparkinsons.org.uk