• £150k raised by peloton of cyclists on a 500km journey to help blood cancer charity, Cure Leukaemia
• Geoff Cousins, chairman at G&P and blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia, joined to support more than 130 cyclists making the journey
• Money raised will go towards funding specialist research nurses and clinical roles at 12 blood cancer centres across the UK
• Call for more riders to sign up to join the ‘London 2 Paris’ ride in 2023

Geoff Cousins, chairman at blood cancer charity, Cure Leukaemia and quality management provider, G&P recently joined a team of cyclists making the journey from London to Paris, all in the name of charity.

The peloton of over 130 cyclists departed from London on 16 June, embarking on the 500km ride to arrive in neighbouring Paris on 20 June. Surpassing their fundraising target of £125,000 for Cure Leukaemia, every penny of the £150,000 raised will go towards funding specialist research nurses and clinical roles at 12 blood cancer centres across the UK, giving patients access to pioneering and potentially lifesaving treatments through clinical trials.

Having originally planned, trained and fundraised to take part in the ‘London 2 Paris’ event as a cyclist, Geoff was struck with Covid-19 just weeks before the event began and was advised by doctors not to cycle. However, committed to driving morale among those taking part, Geoff joined the ride as a member of the support team.

Geoff has a particular reason for supporting the cancer charity Cure Leukaemia as he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2005.

Around 38,000 people are diagnosed with a form of blood cancer every year, a staggering figure that equates to one every 14 minutes. The rate of survival for many adults with blood cancers is still less than 50 per cent, with around 14,000 people dying each year in Britain alone.

Commenting on his involvement, Geoff, who was former managing director at Jaguar UK, said: “Having completed the London 2 Paris ride last year, I was keen to be involved to raise money again in 2022. Catching Covid and being advised not to take part so close to such a wonderful event was incredibly frustrating, but I decided there was another way I could help the team, by supporting them along the journey.

“I soon realised how much hard work it is for the logistics and support teams to ensure the cyclists are fed, watered and generally looked after incredibly well, including massages to ensure that they could concentrate on the cycling but it was a pleasure to be part of it.

“Although watching from the side lines, it was so motivating to see the passion and commitment each rider has for a cause so close to our hearts. A young man named Morgan Paine, who is currently battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, and even received chemotherapy treatment the night before the ride, was a part of the team. He is an incredible fundraiser, and to see him leading the peloton into Paris for the final stretch was immensely inspiring.”

Cure Leukaemia ambassador and avid fundraiser Gio Gonzalez also took part in this year’s London 2 Paris ride, celebrating his 80^th birthday one week after the event – with this year marking the 12^th time Gio has completed this impressive cycle for charity.

Geoff and the team are now calling for more riders to join the 2023 event to help raise funds to continue the fight to cure Leukaemia. Those interested in joining the ride as a cyclist or offering support along the way can find out more at www.l2prevolution.com.

Geoff continues: “The London 2 Paris bike ride is one of the charity’s most popular major fund-raising events and I would urge anyone who can make a donation to please do so, or better still, come and join us on the ride and help raise as much money as possible in 2023.”

To make a donation you can visit Geoff’s JustGiving page here: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Geoff-Cousins and Morgan’s JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Team-Paine .

For more information about Cure Leukaemia, visit www.cureleukaemia.co.uk/.

You can also watch highlights from the ride at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaT_sUWmNxA