Hello everyone!
I’m sure I say it every time, but can you believe it has been a year already? It only seems like 5 minutes ago the Ride 4 Life Class of 2023 were touring around the idyllic Galway Loop, raising £20,000 for Cancer Fund for Children.
But here we are, just a few short hours before the 2024 ride, which takes our cyclists to the equally stunning Cascais region of Portugal for a 70 mile loop that should take just short of 7 hours.
Those on the bikes will no doubt want me to point out that although the route is slightly shorter than previous years, the elevation is considerably higher across the journey, and that’s before you factor in the blazing sun that will no doubt be beating down on them for the duration!
So in short, this year is once again a very worthy challenge, and with it comes another very worthy cause in the shape of MovSaúde.
The Charity
What is MovSaúde, I hear you ask. Well, per their website
Founded on March 21, 2024, MovSaúde is a non-profit association whose main objective is to promote health and prevent oncological disease, with a focus on digestive cancer.
MovSaúde has been formed by Aegeon Santander, Generali Tranquilidade, Ageas Portugal and Multicare Didelidade with the goal of becoming the national reference for Portugal when it comes to health promotion, cancer prevention and research into cancer, particularly colorectal cancer, which claimed the lives of around 240,000 people in 2020 alone.
I think I speak on behalf of everyone involved in this year’s ride when I say we are privileged and honoured to be raising money for such a worthy, and very young, charity and cause.
Following The Ride
Now, unfortunately I haven’t made it to Portugal for this year’s event, and am currently sat in rainy, misty, dismal Doncaster.
No.. it’s fine, please, don’t pity me… it’s OK honestly… it’s not like I’m dying inside a little bit every time I see a sunkissed picture come through to the WhatsApp group (pictures you can check out in our PortuGallery on the Live Results page, by the way) and pining for a pint of Super Bock.
But I will still be doing my best to bring you all the news from the ride live and as-it-happens!
In between enjoying the odd chilled can of Fosters and playing EA FC25 (which I definitely COULDN’T have done from a bar in Portugal, so swings and roundabouts there) I’ll be posting live updates and blogs as always.
I’ll be keeping you abreast of all the important events, from setting off, arriving at the next checkpoint, getting flat tyres, Max enjoying the Portuguese equivalent of a bacon sarnie (a Bifana?) and everything that comes in between, so be sure to keep an eye on the Live Results page for that.
I’m not sure how detailed the blog posts are going to be this year. As you probably know, the Doomsday Book provided about 80% of my content for the UK-based rides, and as far as I know Portugal doesn’t have one of them, so things could be a bit thin on the ground. But I’ll try my best and ramble on about nothing in particular if I can’t find anything out.
Plus I’ll be sharing pictures throughout the day, and if they are anything like last years they will definitely be worth a look!
Musical Motivation
Finally before I go, let me direct you toward this years Spotify Playlist!
Somewhat hastily thrown together, but no less brilliant for it, you can enjoy 110 absolute bangers that the team will also have to endure as they push on through that 5000ft of elevation!
Fair warning, there’s some explicit language in there, and you definitely need to hit ‘Shuffle’!
Right, until tomorrow I will bid you all adeus… I’ve got a date with a KFC Wicked Variety bucket which I also would have struggled to get hold of in Portugal, so another small win for me!
Goodnight everyone!