Subscribe to L2P News and Updates
L2P ’08 Riders to run NYC Marathon with Geoff Thomas
London,UK. 26 October 2008
A number of L2P 08 riders will be attempting the New York marathon in support of the Geoff Thomas Foundation. The 2008 riders include cancer survivor and ex England footballer Geoff Thomas, TdF, Giro and World Champion winner Stephen Roche, double British Road Race Champion Brian Smith, television commentator Anthony Mccrossan, SiS Founder Pete Slater, GB triathelete and stage winner of the women’s TdF, Tanja Slater and Chairman and founder of the L2P, Sven Thiele. Eurosport’s David Harmon sadly had to withdraw due to injury.
In 2003, Thomas was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia and was given just months to live. Mercifully, a bone marrow transplant from his sister saved his life and since then Thomas has raised over £1 million for leukaemia research in the UK.
His fundraising exploits have astounded his fans and his doctors. Inspired by Lance Armstrong, in 2005 he rode the gruelling 3,500km of the Tour de France route and then did it again two years later with four other cancer survivors.
He will be running in New York to raise money for the Geoff Thomas Foundation which is aiming to raise £20 million to save lives by funding blood cancer drug trials at six specialist centres in the UK.
“I have watched many fellow patients lose their battle with blood cancer and I can’t watch my friends die and do nothing. Lance Armstrong was a huge inspiration to me and it has always been my ambition to go to America and have a team running in New York,” said Thomas, who will also be joined by his wife, Julie, and some of Britain’s top football writers.
Roche, who will be running his first marathon, said: “Training for the marathon is hurting me but I know there are people who are hurting even more. I have a choice about whether I run in the New York Marathon. I am healthy enough to do it and in doing so I can raise funds and awareness for people who are less well off physically and have no choice."
Team GTF’s 21 runners have received training tips from Steve Cram, the former 1500m world champion and BBC marathon commentator. Cram said: “Geoff’s battle with cancer and his subsequent fund-raising are a real inspiration. I really admire the way that Geoff is determined to make a difference and campaign for better treatment for blood cancer patients. Geoff is a fighter, someone who doesn’t give up and that’s just what you need when running the New York Marathon."
Riders/Runners being announced at Cycle Show 2008, London.
Websites:
www.geoffthomasfoundation.com
www.londres-paris.com
For interviews and further information contact:
Sybil Ruscoe +44 7767 777 7 87
Hazel Ruscoe +44 7970 237 068