Chris gets on his bike to Paris for Deafness Research UK
When Oxfordshire's Christopher Phillips decided to help raise money for national charity Deafness Research UK, he decided that in order to achieve his ambitions, he would have to get on his bike!
Chris, 21, is taking part in the 500km London to Paris Bike Ride in May and while it is the first time he has participated in a fundraising event for charity, he had strong personal reasons for wishing to support Deafness Research UK.
“I spent a fair bit of my childhood in and out of hospital with a disease called cholesteatoma,” explained Chris, “and while it has left me partially deaf in my right ear, if it wasn’t for help from doctors, friends and family it could have ended up a lot worse. I am now looking to give something back and Deafness Research UK is the perfect choice.”
Starting from London on May 30, the Chris will leave his home in Benson village and join a group of other fund raising riders as they cycle through the English countryside and over to rural France, with a finish in the romance capital of the world. The event is a fundraiser and not a race, so has been split into four stages in order to make the 500km a bit less daunting. Even so, it is a big challenge to take on as your first fundraiser, but Chris has no doubts about why he is taking part.
“Deafness Research UK is working hard to help change the lives of the hard of hearing, including those with cholesteatoma. Every penny I can raise means so much, not just to me, but so many other people in need who Deafness Research UK is trying to help. I hope to raise at least £1,300. I am very excited about the ride, but as long as I can hit my funding target, my goal is just to get across the finish line!”
Anyone wishing to sponsor Chris can do so by visiting his fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/londontoparis2010chris . Chris is already well on his way, but all donations are welcome in preparation for the trip ahead.
The first stage of the ride will see Chris ride from London to Calais and once in France, the second stage passes from Calais to Abbeville, taking in some of finest in Gallic countryside. If Chris and his fellow riders have time to view the scenery, stage three will see them travel from Abbeville to Beauvais, following the course of the river Somme. Finally, stage four sees the big push on to Paris itself with a finish under the Eiffel Tower. Fortunately, Chris and the other riders can take a breather here and catch the Eurostar back home!
