 |  |  | | | CAMPBELL COMPLETES CYCLE RIDE IN SUPPORT OF EX-ENGLAND FOOTBALLER | | | | |
| |  Campbell joins Thomas
Release Date: 20th July 2005
Alastair Campbell, who is best known for his years as Communications Director for Prime Minister Tony Blair, joined former England footballer Geoff Thomas today (Wednesday 20th July 2005), on the penultimate stage of his challenge – cycling Tour de France route, to help Leukaemia Research in the fight against leukaemia.
"It was great that Alastair was able to come out to support me on this stage of my tour. It was a real motivation and pleasure having him with me. It has been fantastic the level of support I have received over the last three weeks and I am looking forward to the finish in Paris tomorrow" says Geoff.
Alastair and Geoff tackled the 55km time trial cycle ride starting and ending in Saint Etienne, France. Alastair sent Geoff a good luck message from New Zealand where he was working for the British and Irish Lions. He agreed then that he would do a stage of the challenge on his return.
"I think what Geoff is doing is phenomenal. To do it so soon after being diagnosed with leukaemia is a real inspiration. Leukaemia Research is very lucky to have someone like Geoff raising funds and awareness in this way and I am delighted to have been able to join him on this ride and to be able to support him," says Alastair.
Geoff was diagnosed with life-threatening chronic myeloid leukaemia in July 2003 and underwent a bone marrow transplant in January 2004. He has been in remission since last Christmas, when he was given permission by doctors to take on the physical demands of the astonishing challenge of cycling 2,200 mile in just 21 days!
Alastair has been supporting Leukaemia Research after losing his best friend - the journalist John Merritt - and John's daughter Ellie to leukaemia. After successfully completing the Flora London Marathon in 2003, he then took on the challenge of the 2004 London Triathlon, raising £1 million for Leukaemia Research.
The latest total on Geoff’s website stands at nearly £110,000 and to make a donation, place a bid for one of Geoff’s t-shirts worn by him on one stage of the ride and for more information on the challenge, log on to www.geoff-thomas.com
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