You Don’t Have To Be A Pro To Ride Tour de France
In the latest episode of Cure Leukaemia’s Let’s Talk Blood Cancer: The Patients Podcast, host Adam Joyce sits down with five Tour 21 riders who are preparing to ride all 21 stages of The Tour de France this summer, one week ahead of the professionals.
The Challenge
Jeff Davis, Scott McGowan, David Brayshaw, Phil Howard and Austin Reynolds, all amateur cyclists, are taking on the full Tour de France route to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia.
Joined by 10 others, they will complete 21 stages over three weeks, covering 3,333 kilometres, climbing 54,500 metres, and tackling 30 mountains and more!
Why take on the Tour de France?
For Jeff, raising money for Cure Leukaemia through this challenge hits close to home. Following symptoms of bruising, elevated heart rate and tiredness, his daughter was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia at just 20 years old. “It’s given me strength, seeing my daughter’s strength throughout her treatment”.
Following his daughter Daisy’s diagnosis with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia in 2024. Scott wants to raise funds for Cure Leukaemia, so he is taking on the Tour 21 to “make sure every type of leukaemia can have a positive outcome”.
Returning rider and blood cancer survivor, David, is taking on the Tour 21 for a second time to raise vital funds for Cure Leukaemia. With a focus on wanting others to have the same positive outcome to treatment that he did, “it is so important to get these drugs out of the research labs and into patients”.
Phil, a keen cyclist and returning rider, is taking on the Tour in memory of his father-in-law Bob, who he sadly lost to leukaemia. Reflecting on his first experience in 2024, Phil believes “some things along the journey of life are special, and that experience in 2024 was special”.
Another keen cyclist, Austin, is taking on the Tour de France route for the second time, following his first experience in 2012, looking for his next big challenge.
Fundraising Efforts
In February, the Tour 21 team reached an impressive milestone, surpassing £100,000 in fundraising. After raising over £20,000 through raffling prizes at his lunch club, Austin then took to asking his mates, taking a more relentless approach to reach his target: “No is a no for today, not tomorrow or the day after. So just keep asking, they will say yes eventually”.
Phil raised funds through his restaurant, with donations coming in little and often, and he will soon reach his £30,000 fundraising target. Phil is planning to continue his fundraising efforts “I can cover the £30k target I have committed to, but then I want to go above and beyond”.
The inspiration behind the challenge
For Scott, his inspiration comes from the strength he has seen in his daughter. When reflecting on Daisy’s treatment, Scott said, “She hasn’t complained once, she’s taken it all on the chin”. When telling Daisy of his plans to take on the Tour 21 in support of Cure Leukaemia, Daisy was in full support, “You can do that daddy, you can ride a bike”.
When reflecting on the climbs ahead, Jeff said, “I shouldn’t complain about anything, because she (Jeff’s daughter) doesn’t complain. She is so strong”. Whilst Jeff’s inspiration for riding the Tour comes from his daughter, he knows that “she won’t let cancer define her, she is so much more than that”. Jeff wants other families to have the same hope that his did following his daughter’s diagnosis.
Having “not understood leukaemia” before the Calpe training camp, Austin has been touched by the journeys of his fellow riders. “I care for these guys and their daughters, I’m raising money for them”.
Looking Forward
Returning Tour rider, Phil is particularly excited about “getting out into the countryside for three weeks” and putting down his phone to do some good.” Reflecting, there is something “very special” about that. For David, the Tour 21 is all about getting involved and not feeling like you need to be a pro to ride, “all you need to do is get up and get on the bike, take it a step at a time and you’ll get through”.
Both Jeff and Scott hope to use this as a way to support others affected by blood cancer. Jeff encourages people not to ignore symptoms or lose hope, stressing the importance of staying positive and taking each day as it comes.
“Hang in there, one day at a time. It’s a long, long process”.
Watch the Tour 21 Teams podcast episode in full: