Cyclists gear up for Sierra Nevada Challenge

Wednesday 16th August 2006

Ten intrepid employees from several UK-based companies are preparing to swap suits for cycle helmets and walking boots, to take part in this year?s CARE Three Peaks Spain Challenge.

This tough mountain-based event, scheduled for the weekend of 14-16th September, will raise funds for overseas development organisation, CARE International

The Challenge, which takes place in Andalucia?s Sierra Nevada region, is spread over three days and involves hiking and biking up mainland Spain?s three highest mountains ? Alcazaba, Mulhac?n and Veleta - with a cycling finale descent into Granada, the longest in Europe. Participants will ascend a total of 3,747 metres and cover a distance of 85km during the three days of the event.

This is the second year that CARE International have run this event, the toughest in their calendar. Participants include a group of employees from construction company Bowmer and Kirkland, who are embarking on their third event for CARE, and two employees from construction group Simons Group, who in 2005 were awarded the accolade of being CARE International?s top fundraising team from that year. Darren Eaton, from Bowmer & Kirkland, explains why they?re back for more:  

?We wanted to do something different and more challenging this year; we?ve taken part in UK and Irish Three Peaks Challenges to raise money for CARE; this year our group wanted to try Spain. Taking part in these events has been a tremendous teambuilding exercise for us, and brought us closer.?

Mike Bartlett, Head of Challenge Events at CARE, added:

?We?re delighted to be running this event for the second year, in the most stunning region of Spain. We wish all participants the very best of luck in their final preparations for this tough Challenge?.

The charity benefiting from the fundraising, CARE International, tackles the deep-seated causes of poverty in order to create lasting changes ? from safe drinking water systems in Tanzania to girl?s education projects in India ? as well as responding in times of emergency.

This includes the Eastern Africa region affected by the ongoing food and water crisis, the Kashmir region of India / Pakistan affected by the devastating earthquake, and South-East Asia where, post-tsunami, CARE was able to respond swiftly to the rehabilitation of communities, including shelter and housing. In all these regions, CARE has decades of experience running development programmes.

Last year?s CARE Three Peaks Challenge Spain raised ?114,000 for CARE; it is anticipated that this year?s event will well exceed that total. To find out how you can support participants, please call the CARE Challenge Team on +44 (0) 20 7934 9414.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

For more information on the CARE Three Peaks Challenge Spain contact Helen Stoddart, Challenge PR Officer, telephone +44 (0)20 7934 9414; alternatively e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.challengeseries.org.uk.

The event itinerary: Day 1: 3 hours uphill mountain biking to mountain refuge.
Day 2: 11 hours hiking up Alcazaba (3371m) and Mulhacen (3483m).
Day 3: 10 hours mountain biking up Veleta (3394m) and descent into Granada.

The Challenge Team at CARE International UK in London has been running outdoor Challenge events for twelve years.

About CARE International:

CARE International is an international relief and development agency working with poor communities in 70 countries worldwide, reaching 48 million people every year. CARE programmes promote positive and lasting change and avoid long-term dependency, tackling issues like education, HIV and AIDS, water and sanitation. CARE also provides emergency relief to survivors of natural disasters and conflicts, including the Asian tsunami, the devastating earthquake in India and Pakistan and the current food crisis affecting 25 countries in Africa.

CARE is this year celebrating its 60th anniversary and is currently trying to track down anyone who remembers receiving the famous CARE packages, containing essential food supplies, in the years immediately after the war. For more information, visit www.careinternational.org.uk