Students to tackle charity cycle challenge (From Dorset Echo)
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Students to tackle charity cycle challenge
3:30pm Friday 15th March 2013 in News By Samantha Harman
GET FIT: George Peele and friends will take on a cycle challenge to raise money for Parkinson's UK
A STUDENT is gearing up for a cycling challenge to help raise more than £10,000 for charity.
On July 18, a group of eight friends will set off from Paris on a 650km ride to Amsterdam which they hope to complete in five days.
Among them will be 18-year-old George Peele, from Piddlehinton, who is studying politics at Radley College in Oxfordshire.
He and his friends, who he met through their studies, were inspired to channel their pedal power when one of their fathers was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in January.
George said: “We looked into it further and it turns out that Parkinson's is a disease that affects millions of individuals and their families world-wide.
“The money we raise would go to help people who suffer from the disease and also help research into drugs to suppress its effects.”
Each of the cyclists has committed to paying for their accommodation and has pledged to raise at least £1,000 each for the charity.
It may be a few months away, but already the students are training hard to make sure they’re ready.
George said: “At the moment we’re doing two and a half hour spins in the gym.
“Next month we’re stepping the training up quite a bit, hoping to do about four or five sessions a week.
“Our preparations are going well, but it’s a big challenge.
“We’re all excited about it though and just hope we can raise as much as we can.
“At the moment, there’s no cure for Parkinson’s, so every penny that is donated to Parkinson’s UK is a step closer to finding one.”
Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological condition that affects about 127,000 people in the UK.
People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of the chemical dopamine because some of the cells in their brain have died.
Without dopamine, they find that their movements become slower over time.
To find out more about the sponsored cycle ride, visit parkinsonsu k.wix.com/paris-to-amsterdam-c To donate, visit justgiving.com/pa ris-amsterdam-parkinsons
