This years Charities

On 25th June this year, twenty one cyclists from Heyho Velo! in Surrey and Cape Town are undertaking the 6 day Raid Kolonel 2009 in the Alps to test ourselves and raise much needed funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and SOS Children's Villages.

In 2006 a smaller contingent tried and failed to complete part of this route. We ran out of food and energy at the snow line about 4km short of the summit of the Col d’Agnel, which at 2704m, is the 2nd highest mountain pass in Europe between France and Italy. We duly nicknamed the Col d’Agnel “the Kolonel” as it reminded us of our compulsory military service!!

We don’t like being beaten so are going back to conquer the Kolonel this year.

To make things even more challenging, en route to the Kolonel we will be cycling over the highest mountain pass in Europe, the Col de Bonnette (2802m - Stage 26 of the 2008 Tour de France).

This is the third Heyho Velo! Expedition. The numbers have grown from 4 in 2007 when we did LEJOG (Land’s End to John O’Groats) and raised an incredible £5,000 for charity, to 11 last year when did the Raid Pyrenean, conquering the mountain passes between the Atlantic and the Med.

Why undertake the Raid Kolonel? There are 3 very good reasons: a) because we are all still lucky enough to be able to undertake an awesome challenge like this; b) to remember those who are suffering at present; and c) to raise much needed funds for Breast Cancer Research and SOS Children’s Villages.

Once again, the Heyho Velo! guys will be ably supported by Jo Florentine, assisted for the first time by her daughter. You will be able to follow our progress by logging onto the Raid Kolonel 2009 Blog. The earlier blogs can be found on the HeyHo Velo web site.
Thank you very much for your support – to donate follow the link(s): Breakthrough Breast Cancer and/or SOS Children's Villages

Sunday, 28 June 2009

Day 4 - Sunday





















Today’s challenges include climbing up to the ski resort of Sestriere, back over the French border, up over the Col de Montgenevre, down the other side and then another ascent back up some of Col d’Izoard where we return to the Auberge of Friday night.

Another day with only one short stretch for Kev in the meat wagon, the guys are getting stronger every day but this is not a tour for the faint hearted. You can see they are having lots of fun – I wouldn’t dare tell you who was wading in the water – you can guess for yourself!

We stopped for coffee in a very strange village, odd goings on as you can see from the pictures – lunch was in a red bull Igloo – if you’ve been skiing you’ll know the type. Odd to see one in the summer – the waiter wanted us to sit indoors – so we had a candle lit lunch – bizarre!

The evening meal was a bit disappointing after a hard day in the saddle, but the people were very nice, if a bit eccentric (remember the groovy jumpers and slippers…) and when I saw the bill for two nights, which was less than one night in the other two places, I forgave them.
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