Some 400 cyclists, from the keenest enthusiasts to amateur pedallers, will be getting up early on Wednesday 23 July to start a four-day trip cycling from London to Paris to raise money for the charity Action Medical Research. Setting off on three different routes from three London locations, at the end of the first day around 300 riders will stop to rest at Dover before catching the ferry to France.
Many of the cyclists are taking part for very personal reasons, including overcoming their own health problems, to remember a lost loved one or to help others by raising funds for vital medical research.
Some are devotees of the event who come back year after year and some are first-timers looking for a new challenge.
The cyclists will be covering around 300 miles in total, riding between 60 and 90 miles per day. Once they arrive in Paris they will then ride in convoy down the Champs Elysees to the Eiffel Tower the day before the Tour de France finishes along the same streets.
Actor and keen cyclist Ben Richards, who plays PC Nate Roberts in ITV police drama series The Bill, will be setting the riders off in London. He said: "To ride down the Champs Elysees with 400 fellow cyclists the day before the Tour de France finishes will be an amazing experience for these riders but it's for a very serious cause.
"Any one of us, at any time, may find ourselves in a situation where we will benefit from work funded by Action Medical Research. I wish everyone taking part the very best of luck."
Last year the event raised around £530,000 and this year's team aims to beat that target.
Further details of the work funded by Action Medical Research and fundraising events like the London to Paris Bike Ride can be found on the website www.action.org.uk.
If you want to sign up for 2009 you can go online at www.action.org.uk/l2p, call 0870 333 1662 or text ACTION L2P with your name and address to 60003 to receive an information pack.
