JAMES Golding is about to take on his next big cycling challenge.
From being given a five per cent chance to survive a cancerous tumour back in 2009, to taking on the world’s toughest cycling event, James’ journey has not been an easy one.
The Rugby resident has battled cancer, faced a series of medical complications, and was even hit by a truck on a cross-country tour of the US – but James got back in the saddle and has since raised more than £2.5 million for charities.
And the 38-year-old is now preparing to take on the infamous Haute Route for a third time. Known as the world’s toughest cycling course, the route consists of three week-long events across some of Europe’s biggest mountain ranges – the Pyrenees, the Alps and the Dolomites.
The 2,563-kilometre challenge, involving more than 60,000 metres of climbing, is longer than the world famous Tour de France.
Cycling with teammates from Ride for a Reason, James is raising money for Cancer Research UK.
James told The Observer: “Lying in the hospital bed allowed me to develop a sense of perspective of what’s important. I wanted to give something back to the people who had supported me, and although I didn’t know it at the time, that meant riding a bike.”
Visit www.hauteroute.org to follow James’ progress.