To add to the list of fundraising efforts for air ambulance services, GB athlete Helen Russell has decided to participate in the Ultimate Ventoux Challenge. In this cycling challenge, the world champion athlete will attempt to climb the famed Mount Ventoux in France. She will be using three different routes and attempt to complete the climb three times in just one day.
More about the Ultimate Ventoux Challenge
Riders in the Ultimate Ventoux Challenge will have to endure 4,400 metres of climbing throughout a 137k route. Also known as the Giant of Provence, Mount Ventoux is 1,912m high and consists of long stretches of road. The unpredictable weather conditions make the challenge even tougher as temperatures can go as high as 40°C with record wind speeds of 200 mph.
If she successfully completes the challenge, Russell will be granted entry to the Club de Cingles du Mont Ventoux, an exclusive club recognizing the achievement of successful riders in the challenge. The 40-year-old athlete from Evesham, Worcestershire is inviting other local cyclists to join her in this challenge, which will take place between June 24 and June 26.
Russell’s effort to help air ambulance services
Helen Russell has won several national, European, and world championships in both triathlon and duathlon. Last year, she rode the Tour de France route a day ahead of professional riders and managed to raise £20,000 for leukaemia research.
By taking part in one of the toughest cycling challenges, the athlete hopes to raise funds for Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance. The money raised from this effort will also go to the Children’s Air Ambulance, the sister charity of the former service.
Both air ambulance services use Coventry airport as their base and the local service averages three missions in a day. The Children’s Air Ambulance specializes in transporting babies and children to specialty centres across the nation. Russell’s effort will see to it that these services get the funding they deserve. You can find out more about the Ultimate Ventoux Challenge here.
