{"id":11479,"date":"2026-04-06T10:17:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T08:17:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aveon.ddns.net\/treport\/?p=11479"},"modified":"2026-04-08T14:17:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T12:17:07","slug":"sponsor-a-km-i-ride-them-you-give-them-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aveon.ddns.net\/treport\/index.php\/en\/2026\/04\/06\/sponsor-a-km-i-ride-them-you-give-them-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Sponsor a km – I ride them, you give them meaning."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On Saturday, 27 June 2026, around 100 cyclists will gather in Barcelona for the \u2018Grand D\u00e9part\u2019. Some will ride for just a few days, others for longer. Over the course of the following three weeks of the Tour, more participants will join us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once again, I am one of the 40 chosen ones who will experience the entire Tour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, this isn\u2019t just an event for eccentric enthusiasts who want to cycle through France for three weeks. No, it is also a major charity initiative that generates around \u00a3300,000\u2013500,000 in donations for its foundation each year.
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The William Wats Memorial Trust<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The WWMT was established to honour the life of William Wates (1977\u20131996), who tragically lost his life whilst travelling through Central America.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"William<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The Trust is a registered charity established in 1998 by his brothers, whose mission is to help particularly disadvantaged young people stay away from a life of crime and violence and fulfil their potential. This is achieved primarily by supporting charities that engage young people through sport, the arts and education.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will was aware of his privileged background and was determined to help others \u2013 we, his brothers, believe that the Trust\u2019s aims reflect exactly what he would be championing today if he were still alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2004, Jonny (one of Will\u2019s brothers) had the brilliant (if slightly mad) idea for \u2018Le Loop\u2019, which enabled the Trust to raise further funds beyond the generous donations from friends and family. Since 2012, the event has been open to everyone, and \u2018Le Loop\u2019 is now the main source of funding, raising between \u00a3300,000 and \u00a3500,000 (gross) annually. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Le Loop offers amateur cyclists the chance to tackle between 2 and all 21 stages of the Tour de France each year \u2013 with comprehensive support and a week ahead of the professionals. Places go on sale from July of the previous year, and the event is usually sold out.
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Here is the link to the official trust\u2019s website.<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sponsor a Kilometer<\/h3>\n\n\n
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My role as a participant is also to raise funds for the WWMT. It went brilliantly in 2017, and I\u2019m counting on your support once again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea is that I cycle the kilometres and you donate one euro, franc or dollar for every kilometre I cover.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In return, I\u2019ll take you along on the tour again with daily reports from the route, the paddock and all the curiosities along the way, just as I did in 2017.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, after 200 km and the mountains, I sit down at my laptop and write these reports, which \u2013 as many have said \u2013 were eagerly awaited the next morning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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My fundraising target is \u00a33,000 by the end of April, when<\/p>\n\n\n\n