Frome cyclist Rupert Waterhouse, will be riding through the Alps, starting on Sunday 23rd August.
He will be raising money for the international charity Team Type 1 Foundation to aid them in their work to support people in developing countries who have diabetes.
Team Type 1 Foundation is the official charity of The Haute Route, one of the most revered amateur cycling event series, billed as ‘the highest and toughest cyclosportives in the world’.
Starting in Nice, and finishing in Geneva seven days later, Rupert will cover 800 kilometres, with 22,000 metres of climbing in total, over 21 iconic alpine cols, the highest at 2,715 metres above sea level.
Team Type 1 Foundation is a nonprofit organisation established to ‘instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes’, pursuing a mission of education, empowerment and equal access to medicine for all.
Currently, 371 million people worldwide are affected by diabetes, and in Africa seven out of eight children with diabetes die before being diagnosed. There is no cure — diabetes must be managed 24/7.
The funds that Rupert raises will go directly to programmes shaping public healthcare policy around the world, and to donations of blood glucose testing supplies for people with diabetes. More information on Team Type 1 Foundation can be found on their webpage www.teamtype1.org.
Local Frome businesses Live2Ride bike shop and Eyetech Opticians have kindly made generous contributions towards Rupert’s target total of £1,750. Any reader who would like to make a donation should please contact Rupert on rbwaterhouse@hotmail.co.uk