Sheffield Star 11.06.10 SHEFFIELD man Tom Piddington is testing himself to the limit on a tough cycling challenge to help earthquake victims in his Chilean partner’s home country.
Tom, aged 33, from Walkley, is heading to the Alps with his mountain bike to participate in the Passportes Du Soleil event on the weekend of June 26- 27.
It’s a 75km route through the mountains between France and Switzerland.
Tom said: “I’ll be riding with two colleagues and we hope to complete the whole length in a day, and ride back again the next day.
“It’s a really hardcore event, there is a risk of injury because some of the downhill slopes on the course are pretty extreme.
“But fingers crossed, I’ll be back in one piece. It’ll be a fantastic experience.”
The course reaches altitudes of more than 2,000 metres and hundreds of mountain bikers are set to take part.
Tom, a director of city-based Navitas Solar Installations Ltd, has been practising hard in his spare time, pedalling up to 40 miles a week on routes around the Peak District.
So far, he has raised £400 in sponsorship but is appealing for more donations before he sets out.
He is supporting the Chile Earthquake Appeal – a cause close to his heart because partner Miriam Rivas-Aguilar comes from the country and is the appeal’ treasurer.
More than 450 people were killed by the earthquake and the resulting tsunami which struck central Chile in February, destroying buildings, bridges and roads in coastal settlements around the industrial city of Concepción. Electricity, water and phone lines were cut.
The region is still devastated and many areas remain without water.
Tom said: “There is a large Chilean community based in Sheffield who have families in the area of the earthquake and they formed the appeal. The region is still in a bad way and the Chilean Government is not doing enough to help.
“What I have raised so far does not seem like much but just 80p can buy items for purifying the water.”
A spokesman for the Chile Earthquake Appeal, chaired by Pedro Fuentes, who lives in Sheffield, said: “Contacts and families in Chile tell us of people living in makeshift shelters in the hills and advise us there is a severe shortage of essentials, which will become critical as winter approaches.
“This includes non-perishable food, winter clothing, household essentials, tools and light machinery.
“Funds raised through this appeal will be used to support emergency relief, rehabilitation and recovery activities for communities affected by the disaster in the earthquake-stricken cities and settlements.”
To sponsor Tom, send a cheque or money order to CHEA, c/o Chile SCDA, Norbury, 2 Crabtree Rd, Sheffield, S5 7BB. Say you are backing Tom’s challenge.
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