IT manager for a marine spillage organization, Chris Pavey, will be cycling La Marmotte, a cycling challenge which covers part of the legendary Tour de France course in July in order to raise money for King Edward VII’s Hospital. Not for the faint-hearted, this challenge will see Chris climbing over 5,000 metres and cycling 174km across the French Alps.

King Edward VII’s Hospital is a cause close to Chris’s heart as his sister Emily works there as part of the busy Fundraising team. Not only does the Hospital, based in the heart of Marylebone, have an incredibly rich military history but it also operates as a registered charity. As part of its charitable status the Hospital offers subsidised healthcare and grants to Serving and ex-Service men and women with the aim that as many as possible can receive swift access to an exceptional standard of healthcare at little or no cost to themselves. Working alongside other medical services and military charities, the Hospital aims to put injured Serving personnel back on the road as quickly as possible. Ex-Service personnel can also apply for grants as well as the spouses, ex-spouses, widows and widowers of all those who have served. As Chris says: “I do something every year for charity but I decided to do a real challenge this time. As an independent charity, King Edward VII’s Hospital offers medical care to soldiers and former soldiers. They have done so much for us, I think it’s only right we give something back to them. The Hospital relies so much on fundraising, so I know the money I raise will make a significant difference. As for the race itself, I’m a keen cyclist so fairly confident of the distance, but slightly nervous about the mountains!” If you would like to donate towards Chris’s challenge please visit:

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ChrisPavey