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For immediate release
October 18, 2001
Australia's Formula One hopeful, Mark Webber, is set to
undertake what he describes as the biggest challenge of his life...and it has
nothing to do with racing cars! Twenty-five year old Webber will be swapping
life in the fast lane for pedal power as he embarks upon a 1627km cycle ride for
charity in the UK; a trip he estimates will take 14 days to complete, averaging
130kms a day from John O'Groats - the most northernly point in Scotland - to
Lands End, the most south-westerly point of England.
Webber, who has gained a reputation as one of the fittest F1
drivers, will be teaming up with F1 Racing magazine journalist and
fitness fan, Tom Clarkson, to raise funds for Cancer Research and will be
setting off from John O'Groats on Sunday (October 21). Although the weather is
unseasonally mild for this time of year, it is likely to change and they are
expecting some adverse conditions as they ride through the tough terrain of the
spectacular Scottish highlands before reaching the Borders and northern Britain
towards the end of next week.
As they travel further south in their second week, Webber and
Clarkson will be joined by several F1 celebrities, including former world
champion, Damon Hill, who will ride with them for two days and Benetton
Renault's Jenson Button who is teaming up with them for a day as they near the
end of the ride, which is due to finish on Saturday, November 3.
"Cancer is something that has affected my family,"
explains Webber, "and that's the reason why I decided to join Tom on the
ride.
"It's also going to be a huge challenge for me. It's one
thing to talk about it sitting in the comfort of a nice, warm house but to
actually go out there and do it is another, and I'm sure it will turn out to be
the hardest thing I've done yet and probably ever! But, it will give me a huge
amount of satisfaction when I complete it and it's nice to think that, from our
efforts, people will benefit from the funding we raise.
Anyone wishing to contribute towards the cause can do so by
sending Mark an e-mail through his official website at www.webber.yellowpages.com.au
For further media information, please contact:
Ann Neal
Tel/Fax: +44 1296 728405
Mobile: +44 7990 592404
