Cycle the Nile Challenge for Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice

JOIN THE PHYLLIS TUCKWELL HOSPICE CYCLE THE NILE CHALLENGE
1ST - 9TH MARCH 2008

Cycle the Nile Challenge 2008 organised by World Expeditions ATOL 4491.

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The Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice are currently recruiting for cyclists to join in a once in a lifetime opportunity to Cycle The Nile in March 2008.

The expedition will take nine days covering 270KM taking in the sights of the Valley of the Kings, Aswan Dam and through to the Great Pyramids. The event starts with a flight from London to Cairo and a connecting flight to Luxor. Starting a the West Bank and crossing the Luxor Bridge there is also the opportunity to cycle the pharonic road “Sphinx Alley”. Cyclists will also cruise the Nile too.

The idea of a challenge to raise funds for the Hospice was instigated by Ian Turner, Joint Landlord of the Hare and Hounds in Rowledge.

Ian said, “It all started back in 1991 when I was diagnosed with cancer. After two years when I was given the all clear I decided that I wanted to start fundraising. At the time the Royal Surrey Hospital were fundraising for children’s wards but in 2003 St Lukes in Guildford started a cancer appeal and I embarked on a trek to Peru along with about 48 other people. Since that time I have also completed Mount Everest Base Camp and more recently the Great Wall of China.”

In that time Ian, who was based in Guildford then, has raised over £16,000 for charity.

He continues, “When I moved across to the Hare and Hounds in Rowledge I decided that I wanted to carry on fundraising and we adopted the Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice as our official charity. As the Hospice primarily deals with patients that are diagnosed with cancer it seemed the appropriate charity to choose. It is also extremely well respected by the local community and because it can affect so many people who live in our area I think it is important to have a local charity to support. There is even a Support Group of volunteers in Rowledge which is good to see”.

“I came up with the idea of the Cycle The Nile Challenge which is a different kind of fundraising event and Egypt is also a country I have always wanted to visit. It is also a challenge for me because I haven’t ridden a bike for 35 years! But Rowledge residents may see me on my bike during the afternoons”.

“The organisation is being administered by World Expedtitions who are vastly experienced and extremely supportive in this venture. We have already started our fundraising in the pub with some entertainment with the Roughditch Players and other initiatives.

“To make the Cycle The Nile Challenge viable we need a minimum of 10 people to register. Currently we are nearing that number but until the commitment and registration fees have been received we cannot proceed. We have had good support so far with Egypt Airlines agreeing to reduce the airfares to help all the entrants take their own bicycles over for the expedition. The more people that register the more the Hospice will benefit which is the aim of the project.”

To secure a place a registration fee of £300 is required with a commitment to raise a minimum of £3200 in sponsorship. This also includes the cost of the trip too (approximately £1100). For an application form or further information please contact Graham Brookland on 01252 729459 or Ian Turner on 01252 792287 or visit www.phyllistuckwellhospice.org.uk

Fly from London to Cairo. Connect to Luxor, cycle through the West Bank of the Nile. Through Aswan and the grand finale is to cycle through the Great Egyptian Pyramids. For further information please contact Ian Turner on 01252 792287 or Graham Brookland on 01252 729459.