Pictured: Marcus Wilkins preparing for his 1500km
challenge
One of Birmingham's leading architects has signed up to
participate in the annual 1500km charity bike ride 'Cycle to
Cannes' that coincides with the MIPIM property conference taking
place 6-9 March.
Marcus Wilkins, studio director at Aedas started training for
the annual trek at Christmas. The six-day ride is set to attract
around 100 cyclists from the UK property industry who will complete
the challenge and raise £250,000.
The event is principally sponsored by Aedas, who were ranked
last month as the world's largest design practice in the BD World
Architecture 100 survey.
All funds raised will support charities including children's
charity Coram which receives two-thirds of the money raised,
Article 25, Tom's Trust, the Multiple System Atrophy Trust and the
Emthonjeni Trust. Details of all the charities can be found at
www.cycle2cannes.org. Since 2006, the initiative has raised more
than £1million for charities in the UK and abroad.
This year, for the first time, the organisers are running not
just the six-day original ride but also a 4-day non-stop chase
ride. The route starts on Sunday 4th March at City Hall in London
and winds its way through Burgundy, the Rhone Valley and finishes
in the Cote d'Azur at Cannes on Wednesday 7th March.
Marcus Wilkins commented: "This is an amazing charity venture
and I am delighted to be part of it for the first time. I've
lost a stone since Christmas through all the training which is
great for the diet but my fitness levels are also at an all-time
high which is great for the heart too!
"The benefits continue; the cycle ride provides MIPIM delegates
with an attractive alternative to flying and helps to promote
cycling and sustainable transport."
Since 2006, the initiative has raised more than £1million
for charities in the UK and abroad.