Friends embark on £1 million cycle challenge for Type 1 diabetes charity

A group of 70 friends will cycle 230 miles from London to Paris on 2 May, to raise awareness and money for JDRF – the Type 1 diabetes charity.

The three-day challenge is in aid of the Wellington £1 million Appeal which was launched in 2010 to raise funds for JDRF and a British Red Cross HIV project in South Africa. Over £850,000 has been raised to date, and the aim is to close the £150,000 gap currently needed to reach the £1 million target.

Organiser and participator in the cycle Oliver Rifkind – whose brother Leo lives with type 1 diabetes said: “Those that know me well understand that JDRF is a charity that is very close to my family and I. Many people don’t realise that Type 1 diabetes is serious and complex. I am proud to be supporting research into one day curing this condition.”

The appeal was launched in 2010, by Charles Rifkind and Keith Hague, the former chief executive of the Wellington Hospital. Together they took 70 cyclists from London to Brussels and raised a significant amount for both JDRF and the British Red Cross.

Since then there have been numerous fundraising efforts include galas, abseils, club nights and golf days contributing to the total. Now four years down the line the appeal has come full circle, with Oliver hoping to close the gap on the remarkable fundraising journey that his family first started.

The 400,000 people in the UK who live with Type 1 diabetes – including 29,000 children – rely on multiple insulin injections or pump infusions every day just to stay alive. A child diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of five faces up to 19,000 injections and 50,000 finger prick blood tests by the time they are 18. The condition is not linked to lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise.

Louise Ingham, Development Manager at JDRF said: “We are so grateful to Oli, his family and everyone participating in the bike ride for supporting our mission to treat, prevent and eventually cure Type 1 diabetes.”

To sponsor Oliver please visit his Virgin Giving page.