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FirstCapital CEO Jason Purcell completes Pyrenees Cycle Challenge for The Cure Parkinson’s Trust

10th July 2019

Our CEO and Co-Founder, Jason Purcell, recently completed a five-day extreme cycle challenge in the French Pyrenees to raise funds for The Cure Parkinson’s Trust (CPT). The team of 13 CPT supporters who rode this physically and mentally demanding route notably included former Rugby World Cup champions CPT Patron Mike Tindall MBE and Iain Balshaw MBE.

Over 100 hours, the team crossed the Pyrenean mountains, covering 735km with 12,800m of ascent from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean Coast. This gruelling route required months of training, as the 13 riders would be crossing many of the cols covered in the Tour de France, such as Tourmalet, Aubisque, Col de Portet d’Aspet and Aspin.

The Cure Parkinson’s Trust is a UK charity which focuses on research for a cure for Parkinson’s, a debilitating neurodegenerative disease. Almost £70k has been raised so far as a result of the “Coast to Coast to Cure” cycle challenge, including gift aid and donations matched by CPT. The funds will be vital to support the charity’s work.

CPT Deputy CEO, Helen Matthews, said: “What an incredible undertaking for The Cure Parkinson’s Trust. A huge physical and mental challenge that has raised much needed funds and awareness for research into a cure for Parkinson’s – thank you all so much for battling through – a phenomenal achievement that makes a massive difference to the research we can fund.”

Principal sponsors for the challenge included AEGIS London, Artemis Investment Management and Cambiaso Risso Group.

Just under three weeks remain to raise the remaining funds to reach the challenge’s £100k target required by 31stJuly at 12am BST. To show support for The Cure Parkinson’s Trust and help raise awareness, you can donate on the Coast to Coast to Cure campaign page below.

Donate to The Cure Parkinson’s Trust