A group of Inverness business people is taking on one of the Tour de France’s mountain stages in an attempt to raise thousands of pounds for a national children’s cancer charity.
Colin MacLeod, customer training officer at Highland Office Equipment, part of the Capital Document Solutions business, is set to complete the L’Étape du Tour in the south of France.
Colin will be joined by Chris Barnett, owner of Roy Homes Ltd, and David MacDonald, director at Global Infrastructure, for the gruelling cycle challenge, with money raised benefitting national charity Children with Cancer.
The event will see the Inverness group, along with an expected 15,000 amateur cyclists, complete 138km and climb an altitude of 16,500 ft on Sunday, July 19.
The Tour de France is set to cycle the same route a few days later – the 19th stage of the competition – between Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne and the La Toussuire-Les Sybelles resort town in the French Alps.
The race includes significant climbs at the Chaussy, the Croix de Fer (by Glandon), and the Mollard Passes, and the final climb towards La Toussuire–Les Sybelles.
Colin MacLeod said: “It promises to be an extremely demanding physical challenge but one that we’re thoroughly looking forward to. The altitude in particular will be a tough ask but we have been training in and around Inverness for several months now and hopefully the city’s many hills will stand us in good stead!
“We’re also delighted to be raising money for Children with Cancer and can hopefully go some way towards supporting the charity continue its fine work.”
The Auld Alliance team, which has already secured around £1,000 in donations, is hoping to raise in excess of £2,250. Donations are being accepted at the team’s Virgin Money Giving page http://bit.ly/1HoUadL with proceeds going to charity.
Children with Cancer UK is a leading national children’s charity dedicated to the fight against all childhood cancers. For further information visit www.childrenwithcancer.org.uk
In 2014, Colin, Chris and David were part of a larger Auld Alliance group which raised more than £30,000 on behalf of the Special Care Baby Unit at Raigmore Hospital, Highland Hospice and Prostate Cancer UK following a 10-day cycle challenge which covered 1,000 miles.
Based at Harbour Road in Inverness, Highland Office Equipment provides photocopiers, printers, furniture, stationery, service support and office solutions to a broad range of clients. The company currently employs 30 people.
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