This June, 44 supporters of CPT were due to take on the legendary Raid Alpine. As this event has been postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions, CPT has launched in its place the ‘Raid Local’ and we would love you to get involved.

Led by CPT Patron Mike Tindall MBE, fellow Rugby World Cup winner Iain Balshaw and CPT CEO Will Cook, with support from the Olympic and World Champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy and other sports legends, a team of over 100 cyclists (and counting) will set off independently on Sunday 28 June from various locations in the UK, France, Italy, Australia and beyond to take on their own local cycling challenge.

If you would like to get involved, you can join Mike and the team, who will be emulating the first and most difficult day of the Raid Alpine in their local area – covering a distance of 137km and climbing an incredible 3,700m of vertical ascent. So far, our committed cyclists have raised over £150,000 and climbing (like our riders!). If you are trained and willing to attempt the full, iconic 137km/3700m ascent in one day, we would love you to join this team!

Alternatively, if you prefer a challenge that is slightly more pleasurable, yet still demanding, why not map out your own route and ride it on the day to show support for Mike, the team and this charity? Whether that’s 2km, 20km or 200km on the day, you can still take part and raise funds to cure Parkinson’s.

Here’s how you can get involved:

  1. Sign up 
  2. Map out your route – you can join in wherever you are, but please adhere to the government’s guidelines on social distancing measures within your local area. Click here for more information.
  3. Record your achievements on the day with ‘Strava’. If you haven’t got this sports app, simply download it to your phone before you ride, and join our dedicated CPT ‘Raid Local’ Club. At the end of the challenge, we will analyse your distance, ascent and speed to identify the highest, longest and fastest riders for our exclusive online celebrity prize-giving event! Click here for more information.
  4. Donate at least £20 to the charity’s general ‘Raid Local’ JustGiving Campaign page, before or after the ride.  If you are able to donate more than £20, the charity’s work will benefit: all funds raised support our programme to find a cure for Parkinson’s.
  5. If you are able, please ask friends and family to help spread news of your challenge and sponsor you. Set up your fundraising page through our team JustGiving campaign. 
  6. Promote your challengethrough your social media networks and don’t forget to tag CPT. You may even inspire others to join in!

If you would like to support Mike and the team’s huge efforts by giving a donation, please visit their fundraising page.

If you are interested in a new opportunity for corporate sponsors, please contact julia@cureparkinsons.org.uk

Alison Anderson, a supporter from Cheltenham who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s five years ago, will be taking on the rolling hills of Gloucestershire. She said:

“Exactly five years after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s, it feels fantastic to think it might be possible for me to complete a challenge as physically demanding as the Raid Local. It’s exciting to be doing the challenge locally, although we do have some extremely tough hills in Gloucestershire! However challenging it might be, it’s nowhere near as challenging as living with Parkinson’s.”

Raid Local from home: How much more local can you get?

If you would prefer to take on this challenge from the comfort of your own home, CPT is offering a unique, celebrity-led, virtual endurance ride in three stages on the popular cycling platform Zwift.

The virtual Raid Local will be led Mike Tindall’s team of sporting legends including Olympic and World Champion cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, CPT Ambassador & Rugby World Cup winner Iain Balshaw, rugby legends Shane Williams MBE and Austin Healey, British Olympic skeleton racing champion Amy Williams MBE, English professional golfer Lee Westwood OBE, and TV and radio broadcaster Kirsty Gallacher.

Click here to find out more about the Virtual Raid Local

CPT, like so many others, has been significantly affected by COVID-19. We receive no government funding and rely on our challenge events to support our cutting-edge research. In 2020, 95% of our events have been cancelled, so your support during these uncertain times means more than ever.

Rendering of 2020 Jersey of Hope

The Cure Parkinson’s Trust would like to thank Zwift for hosting the virtual Raid Local and Rapha for their support and publicity for Raid Local. Thank you to our lead sponsor, Peninsula Petroleum, as well as our corporate sponsors Christchurch Investment Management, Bray & Krais, LSH Investment Management, Levmet, Marmot Tours,Taqarabu Hybrid Communications, Savills, Compariqo, Lapwing Ltd, Simmons & Simmons and Wordley Partnership for supporting this event and the Jersey of Hope (pictured above).

One of the sponsors of Raid Local is Le Col, who are making real, wearable jerseys precisely as laid out above.

These will be made available at a reduced price for supporters of The Cure Parkinson’s Trust (CPT). 

If you are interested (without commitment yet) in buying this jersey, please click below.

Register your interest here