Widnes man attempts to raise £30k before cycling Tour De France route

Liam Mahoney, 33, has been cycling for 16 years and often attempts to find new ways to challenge himself on his bike.

Last year, Liam saw the opportunity to take part in The Tour 21, which takes a group of 25 amateur cyclists round the entire Tour de France route to raise money for charity.

Unfortunately, as he saw the ballot after entries had closed, Liam was unable to apply.

However, this year Liam applied and was selected in September as one of the cyclists to take part.

As part of the challenge, each cyclist pledges to raise £30,000 for Cure Leukaemia, which helps fund research into potential life-saving treatments for patients suffering with blood cancer.

“The challenge is brutal – it’s probably the hardest thing you could do as an amateur cyclist as you’re taking on the entire Tour de France route,” said Liam.

“The training side is fun and enjoyable because I’ve done it for so long, but the hardest part of the challenge right now is the fundraising because you’re always thinking of new ways to raise money.”

So far, Liam has raised £12,000 for Cure Leukaemia through fundraising activities in shops, as well as through his JustGiving page.

Liam has raised money through fundraising in shops and his JustGiving page (Image: Liam Mahoney)

“There isn’t a cure out there so that’s what we’re working to fund,” he said.

“Across the UK there’s 15 research nurses that Cure Leukaemia invest in and the money we raise as individuals that keeps them working for another year in a local hospital.

“Without them there’s store cupboards of potentially lifesaving medicines that aren’t being put to use, so these nurses help accelerate that.”

All the cyclists taking part are working towards raising a total of £1million for Cure Leukaemia.

The Tour 21 takes 25 cyclists round the 2,500 mile route, across 21 stages in exactly the same way the professionals complete the course.

The group of cyclists will begin the route on June 22, a week before the professionals begin, and will cycle until July 14.

Liam, who works for Marks and Spencer, has been dedicating 10 to 12 hours a week to training, which will increase as the start date gets closer.

“As a cyclist the Tour de France is regarded as the pinnacle event, and as an amateur its only reserved for the professionals,” he said.

“So, to have the opportunity to do it and ride in the path of your heroes is pretty incredible.”

To find out more about The Tour 21 visit the website, or to donate to Liam’s JustGiving click here.