I’m ashamed to say not since the blackberry picking competition at prep school have I asked for any form of charitable sponsorship. As that was forty-one years ago it’s a fair bet I won’t be asking you again.

Inspired by Bradley (17 years my junior) and Team GB, and given my love of The Engadine and The Dolomites, I couldn’t think of anything better than a gentle autumn bicycle ride crossing the Haute Route Dolomites Swiss Alps from Geneva to Venice.

When I entered the Haute Route in March, the idea of bicycling 910km (560 miles) in a week seemed ambitious, but not impossible. Unfortunately the 21,600m (70,866sq.ft) of climbing, five times the height of the Matterhorn from sea level, was a detail lost on this amateur MAMIL. I now realise the 300 entries come from all over the world, most are hardened triathletes, and the majority look more like Chris Froome than yours truly; or indeed, Gary Lowe, the new Secretary of the St Moritz Tobogganing Club whom I have persuaded to join me on this adventure. Sadly there is no Veteran Class in the World’s Highest and Toughest Cyclosportive.

Whilst the lead charity for the Haute Route is Type 1 Diabetes, I decided to take inspiration from a brilliant young man who tragically died whilst travelling with friends after his A levels in the summer of 2015. If anyone could help push me to the top of a mountain it would be Archie Lloyd (old boy of Cheam and Harrow) whose family have started a charity in his memory to raise funds to inspire talented young to improve their life skills and motivate others. 

‘The Archie Lloyd Charitable Foundation’ Charity Reg. No. 1167671
“Archie Lloyd tragically died whilst travelling with friends after his A levels in the Summer of 2015. He was a highly motivated young man who made the most of his talents and was inspirational to younger boys at his school. His sunny demeanour and passion for all things sporty and his determination to be the best he could be. His legacy should reflect his personality and help other young people to make the most of their talents and to inspire others whose life opportunities may not be what we would all want. The charity will raise funds to support a series of programmes/awards that will provide an opportunity for young people with ability and drive who are both good citizens and role models to undergo coaching/training, to then use the skills learnt to motivate and inspire other young people. This may involve travel to enhance the experience of the selected candidates. Funding will also be provided to support mentors to help the candidates selected to become ambassadors for the Archie Lloyd Foundation. Areas of particular interest to Archie were all sports, outward bounds, politics, music, finance and academia. These areas will be of particular focus, (although not exclusive) for the Charitable Foundation’s Trustees in the selection of suitable recipients of any award. The Charitable Foundation will support direct programmes as funding allows, whilst also working with established charities that can support and further the charitable objectives.” (James Lloyd 2016)