Mike Hopkins, Principal of South and City College Birmingham is part of a 21 rider cycle team taking on one of the world’s toughest sporting challenges for blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia – The Tour de France, one week ahead of the professional cycle race in which the likes of Geraint Thomas and will be competing!
The challenge was of course due to take place last year but because of Covid has been re-arranged for June 19th.
The actual Tour De France takes place from 26 June until 18 July 2021 and The Cure Leukaemia charity challenge will be one week ahead of that – over 21 days, a distance of 3,500 km and taking on some of the longest and most difficult mountain roads in the world.
The aim is to raise an incredible £1,000,000 for blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia.
The team will be led by Geoff Thomas who had a 20 year career in football that includes 9 England caps and the captaincy of Crystal Palace in the FA Cup Final.
Geoff was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia and given 3 months to live. Thankfully after vital treatment in Birmingham he went into remission in 2005 and has been helping to raise funds ever since so that more patients can access lifesaving treatments for blood cancer.
Mike Hopkins, already a well-known amateur cyclist, is currently putting in 100’s of miles on the road as his training schedule prepares for this incredible challenge.
Mike said “I have been a part of an incredible amount of South and City College Birmingham charity fundraising over a number of years now, all with a real relevance to staff and students at the college. We are supporting Cure Leukaemia because a number of individuals here at South and City have had the disease; sadly one of our managers passed away as a result. However there is also a personal significance as my father died of leukaemia over 2 years ago having had immense help and support at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Considering the difficulties the charity sector has experienced because of the pandemic, £1 million will make a vital difference to research and lifesaving drugs – and it’s here in Birmingham”
Please see below the ‘Just Giving’ link for Mike Hopkin’s momentous Challenge for Cure Leukaemia :-
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/southcitycollegebirmingham
All monies raised will be invested in 12 blood cancer centres, including Birmingham and across the UK – those that form part of the Trials Acceleration Programme (TAP). This network of specialist nurses covers a catchment region of 20 million people and will connect blood cancer patients with pioneering treatments for the disease through clinical trials – YOUR support will directly help save lives and hasten the eradication of blood cancer within 15 years.
Business and Community Manager for South and City College Steve Dourass said ‘Mike is a real inspiration to the students and staff of South and City College. Over the years he has raised many many £thousands for great causes – this is combined of course with his extremely demanding role as Principal of South and City – a role that truly inspires others to believe that ‘no dream is too big’.