Tour de France 2018 London to Paris In partnership with 25 29 July 2018 Join Team Mind for the ride of your life - 4 days to cycle 300 miles across England and France, reaching Paris in time for the finale of the Tour de France. And you ll be helping us make sure no one has to face a mental health problem alone.
Your adventure starts here This exhilarating ride takes you through beautiful English villages and the stunning countryside of northern France before you reach the finish line under the Eiffel Tower. Then celebrate by watching the finale of the Tour de France on the Champs-Élysées! Dates Wednesday 25 Sunday 29 July 2018 Number of days 5 days (4 days cycling) Registration Fee Secure your place on this challenge with a registration fee of 125. 1 Sponsorship target We ask you to pledge to raise a minimum sponsorship of 1,650 to take part. If you raise 80% of this 12 weeks before the event (that s 1,320), we ll pay for the cost of your challenge. 2 Alternatively, if you would like to self-fund and pay the full or part of the challenge costs yourself, let us know. 3 Fundraising support We ll support you all the way we ll send you a fundraising pack when you register and you ll have a dedicated contact at Mind to offer advice in the run up to the event. What s included? Accommodation, travel by ferry and Eurostar, all meals during cycling days, water, refreshments, experienced guides, mechanics and medical support. 4 Accommodation 2- and 3-star hotels throughout the cycle. Rooms will be twin shared. Climate Up to 26 C during the day with lows of around 16 C. Being prepared for any combination of sun, wind and rain is key! Meals Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided throughout the trip along with morning and afternoon rest stops. Most dietary requirements can be catered for, please advise upon booking. Groups and corporates This trip is great for teams as well as individuals. If you are a group or you want to organise a company team, get in touch by emailing events@mind.org.uk or call 020 8215 2385. Notes: 1. The registration fee is non-refundable. 2. All fundraising incurs costs. The tour costs are 50% of the minimum sponsorship level. The first 80% of this minimum sponsorship is due 12 weeks before the event. 3. Those who self-fund their place will receive an invoice for the tour costs 14 weeks before the event. 4. All participants are responsible for their own passports and any necessary visas. The tour costs do not include travel insurance which is compulsory. Dinner on the ferry on day one and lunch on day five are not included. Skyline Events and the charity act as agents for Skyline Tour Operations Ltd. (ATOL protected 10069). Mind is a registered charity number 219830.
Itinerary Day 1 London to Calais Our challenge begins bright and early at Crystal Palace before heading south towards the coast. Today s route winds through the beautiful Kent countryside before we reach the famous white cliffs of Dover. From here we catch the ferry to Calais for our first overnight stop. Approx. 95 miles Day 4 Beauvais to Paris Day 2 Calais to Abbeville La belle France! Stunningly picturesque countryside awaits us in northern France as we travel south from Calais to Desvre, a small market town known for its ceramics. Next we cycle along river valleys to historic Abbeville, whose Gothic cathedral and medieval town hall narrowly survived destruction in two world wars. Approx. 75 miles Day 3 Abbeville to Beauvais Our final day of cycling and the big push to Paris! We are still treated to some stunning countryside all the way up to our lunch spot by the River Seine. After lunch we follow the river down through the suburbs until we reach the Bois de Boulogne the largest park in Paris. We then have a short ride along the famous wide boulevards of Paris before reaching the finish line by the Eiffel Tower. Approx. 60 miles Day 5 Paris to London on the Eurostar Our route this morning follows the River Somme out of Abbeville. Although the infamous battle probably comes to mind, the name Somme actually derives from the Celtic word for tranquility which matches the atmosphere as you cycle through this lovely region. We finish the day in Beauvais, whose market square boasts several buildings dating from the twelfth to sixteenth centuries. Approx. 70 miles Today is your chance to explore the City of Light and visit the landmarks you cycled past on day 4. You re just in time to witness the final stage of the Tour de France so pick your viewing spot on the Champs-Élysées to cheer on your cycling heroes as they sprint to the finishing line! We ll be catching an evening Eurostar back to London and when you arrive at St Pancras you ll be reunited with your bike which has been transported for you overnight. I loved the experience, and the camaraderie, and can quite confidently say it was one of the best things I ve ever done. Due to the nature of the challenge, this complex itinerary is subject to change.
FAQs Is the trip for me? Definitely! This trip is perfect for anyone who wants to do something amazing and help make sure everyone dealing with a mental health problem has somewhere to turn. There will be lots of other friendly, supportive people on the ride, all looking for an adventure and the chance to meet people. Some people take part with friends or family, but most sign up on their own. How fit do I need to be? The ride requires a good level of general fitness but you will be provided with a full training guide to help you prepare for the challenge. You need to be able to cycle for up to 8 hours per day at a moderate pace. You should train on the bike you will be riding for the challenge and get out on consecutive days so you know you will be comfortable and have an enjoyable ride. Training and a good level of fitness will make sure you enjoy your ride to the full. How will I raise the sponsorship money? Once you ve started, you ll find that raising the minimum sponsorship isn t as daunting as it may seem and most importantly, it s fun! We ll send you a fundraising pack and will be on hand to support you. Getting started early and breaking it down into chunks will really help. You are doing something amazing so make sure you tell everyone you know, and before you know it you will be racing towards your fundraising target! Is there support? Yes! As well as the team here at Mind, you ll have a contact at Skyline Events (the organisers) to help you in the lead-up. You ll be sent confirmation and access to a website shortly after you register which gives you all the information you need, and we re always here to make the experience as enjoyable and hassle free as possible. What about food and drink? Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided throughout the trip except for two meals (dinner on the ferry on the way out to France and lunch in Paris on our last day). We can of course cater for vegetarians and other dietary requirements just let us know in advance. What do I need to bring? You will need to bring your own bike. We strongly recommend using either a road, hybrid or touring bike, not a mountain bike. A cycle helmet is compulsory. You will receive a full packing list once you have registered. It s important to have good quality kit and equipment that suits you never underestimate the importance of a good bike! What will happen to my luggage when I m cycling? There will be support vehicles with the group at all times, which will also carry your luggage. You ll just need to bring a bum bag for any essentials like a camera or sun cream. What about insurance? You must have travel insurance in order to participate. You can either arrange this yourself (as long as your insurance company is aware of the nature of what you are doing and that it is a charity event) or Skyline can help arrange this. When should I book my place on the trip? As soon as possible! Places are limited and get snapped up quickly, so to avoid disappointment sign up today and don t miss out! How do I get in touch? Contact us at events@mind.org.uk or 0300 999 3887 Is there an age restriction? You will need to be over 18, but there is no upper age limit. If you are over 65 you will just need to get a medical form signed by your doctor.
You re helping change lives By fundraising for Mind, you re bringing us closer to a world where no one faces a mental health problem alone. Here s a snapshot of our work in 2016/17: I m a real person with a real issue and received real advice. Thank you for providing answers that others couldn t or wouldn t. Infoline caller 76,323 queries answered by our helplines people accessed our information 10.8 million times I found it incredibly difficult to find any encouraging stories of recovery, and then I found Mind. Nikki Mental illness is a very dark and lonely place in the real world, but Elefriends is a safe and healthy virtual world where you can give and receive support. It really has been a life-saver. Helen 107,607 people accessing peer support via Elefriends, Friends in Need and Mind-funded networks Register today: mind.org.uk/cycletoparis