• Geoff Cousins, chair of Cure Leukaemia and leading quality management provider G&P to be among 150 charity riders
• Cyclists hoping to raise £150,000 on the 500km trip from London to Paris
• Money raised will help fund specialist research nurses around the country
• Final call for more ‘London 2 Paris’ riders between 8-12 June, 2023

The chairman of blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia and automotive and aerospace quality management provider G&P is to join 150 other cyclists riding from London to Paris. Together, the peloton hopes to raise £150,000 for life-saving clinical trials across the country.

Geoff Cousins will be among the riders setting off from Greenwich Observatory on 8 June to pedal the 500km to the chequered flag at the Eiffel Tower four days later. This year will mark Geoff’s second time on the start line; in 2021 he personally raised an incredible £5,000, helping the charity to raise £150,000 – £25,000 more than its original target.

Funds raised will assist the national Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP), a network of 15 specialist research nurses across 15 of the UK’s biggest cities, enabling pioneering blood cancer clinical trials to connect patients with potentially life-saving treatments not currently available through standard care.

Cure Leukaemia is a charity close to Geoff’s heart having been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2005. He was among the 38,000 people diagnosed with blood cancer every year – one every 14 minutes.

The former managing director of Jaguar UK is particularly excited about this year’s event, having been sidelined by Covid in 2022. “I trained for months last year and was hugely disappointed to be told I couldn’t cycle after contracting Covid just weeks before the event,” Geoff said. “I am more determined than ever to do it this year and can’t wait to join 150 friends and fellow cyclists to take on the mammoth challenge once again.”

“I’ve met so many amazing people though the charity, it’s humbling to be involved. Last year, a young man called Morgan Paine completed the ride despite battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia and receiving chemotherapy treatment the night before the ride. I’ll never forget the sight of him leading the peloton into Paris.

“Another cyclist completed his twelfth London 2 Paris ride last year at the age of 79.”

Yet despite boasting a packed entry list, Geoff and Cure Leukaemia are urging others to take part. “It’s such an amazing event to be involved with. There’s nothing more rewarding than crossing the finish line after a challenging few days knowing you have raised money to help people with this disease,” Geoff said.”

To make a donation to the Cure Leukaemia charity, visit Geoff’s JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/geoff-cousins4

To find out more about Cure Leukaemia’s London 2 Paris cycle, visit https://www.l2prevolution.com