The Swift Group, which is one of the largest manufacturers of caravans and motorhomes in the UK, has been announced as an official sponsor of The Tour 21.
Offering amateur cyclists the chance to complete the route of the Tour de France just a week before the pros, The Tour 21 is Cure Leukaemia’s headline fundraising event.
It will see 25 riders take on the challenge of cycling all 21 stages of the iconic race in a bid to collect £1 million for the cause.
According to Swift, caravans and cycling are an obvious partnership, with many keen riders utilising leisure vehicles to get off the beaten track on two wheels.
Joanne Mitchell, head of marketing at Swift Group, said: “Our Swift motorhomes are ideal for cyclists – with routes often limited by a lack of suitable accommodation, Swift offers cyclists the option to extend their routes, and take on the challenges that really matter to them.”
Participants in The Tour 21 will depart Bilbao in Spain on June 23rd and cycle more than 3,000 kilometres to central Paris, arriving in the French capital on July 16th.
The Tour 21 was dreamed up by ex-England, Crystal Palace and Wolverhampton Wanderers footballer Geoff Thomas MBE.
Just months after retiring from professional football, the former midfielder was diagnosed with leukaemia and given three months to live.
He beat the disease through a combination of a stem cell match and cancer treatment, then went on to become a patron of Cure Leukaemia.
Mr Thomas is not asking fundraisers to do anything he wouldn’t do, however, as he has himself cycled the tour route five times.
Other associations between leisure vehicles and cycling include Swift Go – the group’s motorhome hiring division – being an official partner of British Cycling.
Ms Mitchell added: “At Swift, cycling is part of our DNA – we know that our customers love to get out into nature to ride their bikes.”
