London to Paris cycle for Meningitis - Healthy Life Essex

Join Meningitis Research Foundation’s (MRF) London to Paris cycle team for a four day, 290km bike ride on 30 July – 2 August 2010.

We’d love cyclists of all abilities to sign-up for the MRF team. Join us at the starting line in London’s bustling streets on the morning of 30 July. We’ll cycle through south East England to Newhaven, board a ferry to Dieppe and cycle to a hotel in northern France. For the next three days we’ll head south through beautiful French countryside to the finish line under the Eiffel Tower.

After a celebratory glass of bubbly, it’s a relaxed cycle to the Eurostar where we’ll stow our bikes and put our feet up for a well earned rest as we’re whisked back to Blightly on 2 August.

MRF member Helen Arnold cycled to Paris last summer and loved every minute. She says: “Last year’s London/Paris cycle was a wonderful opportunity for me to stay in shape, raise sponsorship for a great cause, and have a few days in sunny France to boot. I’d recommend it to anyone of any age looking for a new challenge in 2010.”

Helen continues: “We started out on Tower Bridge in the sunshine. As a city worker it was great to cycle out of London into the British countryside, and a few hours later we were riding in northern France! The final leg coming into Paris was one of the highlights of the trip – the first glimpse of the Eiffel Tower left us all elated, and riding under the Arc de Triomphe was fantastic. I believe that anyone who enjoys cycling, or just wants a challenge for the summer, should sign up.”

MRF is a cause close to Helen’s heart – her friend Matthew Jones tragically lost his life to meningitis in 1998. Spurred on by a desire to make a difference in the fight against meningitis in Matthew’s memory, Helen raised a fantastic £1,100 in sponsorship for MRF.

Meningitis Research Foundation is a national charity fighting death and disability caused by meningitis and septicaemia – diseases which affect over 3,000 people a year, killing 10% of sufferers and leaving survivors with devastating after-effects like brain damage, deafness and amputations.  We fund vital research into preventing, detecting and treating meningitis and septicaemia, raise awareness amongst the public and health professionals, and support those affected. We rely on the support of people like Helen to continue this vital work.

If you’d like to sign up for the 2010 London/Paris cycle, call our fundraising team on 01454 281814 or visit www.meningitis.org