How would you fancy cycling the first stage of the Tour De France two weeks ahead of the pros? That’s 195km in 12 hours!
Luckily for our customer, Matt Perry-Parker he’s up for the challenge, and most of all, he’s up for raising some serious money for Prostate Cancer UK.
GF Machining Solutions’ Chief Financial Officer, Matt Perry-Parker has been working with Sandicliffe Motor Contracts for over seven years. So when we heard what he was up to this June, we were keen to show our support.
The Grand Depart Classic is a four-day affair, with the main cycling event taking place Saturday 23 June. The riders will be in the saddle for up to 12 hours (due to road restrictions) starting out at 7am from Noirmoutier-en-l’Île, then travelling along the coast of Western France to eventual arrive at their destination, Fontenay-le-Comte. It is the exact route the professional Tour De France cyclists will pedal as they make their grand depart a couple of weeks later at the beginning of July.
It’s all for a good cause!
Every 45 minutes one man dies from prostate cancer – that’s more than 11,000 men every year.
As well as looking forward to the challenge, Matt is driven to making his fundraising campaign a success.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and is now a bigger killer than breast cancer.
By 2026, Prostate Cancer UK aim to halve the number of expected deaths.
Just this week, the Prime Minister pledged a record investment of £75 million to Prostate Cancer UK, focusing on getting men diagnosed earlier and faster. But it is through the generous donations of everyday charity supporters that still plays such a huge role in stopping men dying from prostate cancer.
The charity also means a lot personally to Matt who sadly lost his Grandfather to prostate cancer 12 months ago. Matt is riding in memory of his ‘Gramps’.
“For me, it’s about pushing myself to the limit to help save men’s lives,” commented Matt.
“My target of reaching £1,000 in sponsorship will go a long way in making radical improvements in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention of prostate cancer.
“So far, the training has been demanding. I’ve lost a fair few kilos through what has been a pretty tough training regime and winter, but I know it will all be worthwhile when I cross that finish line in a few months’ time and look back at what I have achieved.
“Even if it is too late for Gramps, knowing someone else’s family will benefit from my contribution is a great comfort.
“The support I’ve received so far has been a great motivation. I’m now officially half way to meeting my sponsorship target. So with a little over 12 weeks until I depart, I look forward now to pushing on. I have a great support network in both the cycling fraternity and commercially, which does make the task seem a little less daunting as we get ever closer.”
Show your support
To find out more out the Grand Depart Classic visit prostatecancer.org/grand-depart-classic. Or to track Matt’s journey and to sponsor him, visit his Just Giving Page.
From everyone at SMC we wish Matt all the best!
Well done to Matt who has reached and surpassed his £1,000 sponsorship seven weeks ahead of the big event!