1 July 2011

DJCAD lecturer takes on Tour de France stage for charity

A lecturer from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design will later this month swap the studio for Alpine passes when he takes on a gruelling stage of the Tour de France for charity.

Keen cyclist Kim McGillivray, a lecturer on the General Foundation course at DJCAD, part of the University of Dundee, will attempt to fulfil a long-held ambition of completing an Alpine stage of the Tour de France on Monday, 11th July. The Etape du Tour is a large event, which opens up a stage from the Tour for amateur cyclists.

This year’s event will challenge Kim and his fellow riders to take on three of the most famous classic Alpine passes, including the notorious Alpe d'Huez which rises 1100 meters over 21 hairpin bends.

As he pushes his body to the limit, Kim will be raising money for RUDA Tanzania, a small Scottish charity that offers direct assistance for development in Tanzanian communities.

Most recently, the organisation helped build, furnish and establish a junior school in Namanditi. The children who attend are sponsored by a monthly payment scheme, of which Kim is a subscriber.

'It’s been an ambition of mine to crest some of the classic Alpine’s passes since I was a teenager,' explained Kim. 'This is a great opportunity for me to take part in the Etape du Tour. Many participants take part each year, generally aiming to merely complete the stage or fulfil other personal targets against the clock, but I thought this was a great way to raise money for RUDA'.

'I’ve never taken part before but I have completed similar events in the UK and I've been training three times every week since Hogmanay and have clocked up over 2000 miles in the wind, rain, hail, snow, in the dark and even in the sunshine once!

'The work RUDA have carried out in community-building is remarkable. The value in terms of education, health and wellbeing will be critical for the prospects of these children who would otherwise have access to so little. Hopefully my madness will help to raise more money for the hugely worthwhile work they do.'

Anyone interested in sponsoring Kim can contact him on k.a.mcgillivray@dundee.ac.uk. More information about his efforts, Etape du Tour and RUDA Tanzania can be found on his website www.kimfolio.com/ruda.html.

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