Niftylift director in historic cycling challenge

Niftylift development director Steve Redding is part of the AEGIS Coast to Coast to Cure team cycling across the Pyrenees this week, to raise vital funds for Parkinsons research.

Redding, an avid cyclist, will be attempting the historic Raid Pyrenean with 12 other supporters of The Cure Parkinson’s Trust (CPT), including CPT Patron Mike Tindall MBE and fellow Rugby World Cup winner Iain Balshaw MBE.

The Raid Pyrenean is an extreme cycle challenge from the Atlantic Coast to the Mediterranean in just 100 hours, traversing stunning French Pyrenees and covering 735km with 12,800m of ascent. It crosses many of the Cols made famous by the Tour de France including Tourmalet, Aubisque, Col de Portet d’Aspet and Aspin.

The team has a wide range of historic and current fitness levels. Tindall and Balshaw MBEs are possibly at the upper end, but all have trained hard for months to prepare for this gruelling challenge. They will be cycling all day, at least, for nearly five days. 700km on the flat would be a challenge but climbing 12km of altitude at the same time certainly adds an edge, said a Niftylift spokesman, “Just to complete this challenge will be a severe test of fitness and endurance.”

The full team line-up is: David Adams, Iain Balshaw MBE, David Bieber, Sean Brew, Will Cook, Charlie Garner, Michael Moore, Jason Pollock, Steve Pollock, Jason Purcell, Steve Redding, Max Smith and Mike Tindall MBE.

All riders are funding their own trips; all donations will go directly to The Cure Parkinson’s Trust. If you’d like to donate, visit the official Coast to Coast to Cure Challenge Pledgit page.