A London cyclist is preparing to take on one of professional cycling’s most formidable climbs to raise money for Alzheimer’s Research UK.
Andrea Auerbach, based in West Hampstead, will ride 121km and climb more than 3,000 metres during L’Étape du Tour de France Femmes on 6 August — an event that allows amateur cyclists to ride part of the official Tour de France route, with the finish on Mont Ventoux.
The mountain in Provence is renowned for its exposed upper slopes, punishing gradients and long history in the Tour de France.
Auerbach said she had never attempted a challenge on this scale but was motivated by her family’s personal experience of dementia.
“The reason is personal to me and my family. I am dedicating this challenge to Alzheimer’s Research UK,” she said.
Her fundraiser has received £1,358 from 24 donations, putting her close to her £1,500 target. The money will support research into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of dementia.
Auerbach described Mont Ventoux as “the most feared and storied climb in professional cycling”, saying it had tested some of the strongest riders in the sport.
She said: “Thank you in advance for anything you’re able to give. I’ll bring it with me on the climb.”
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia. It progressively damages brain cells, leading to problems with memory, thinking and everyday activities. There is currently no cure.
Almost one million people are living with dementia in the UK, according to Alzheimer’s Research UK, and the charity estimates that the figure could rise to 1.4 million by 2040.
Women are disproportionately affected, accounting for around 65% of Alzheimer’s deaths in the UK, the charity says.
Dementia has also remained one of the leading causes of death in England and Wales, increasing pressure on families, health services and social care.
Diagnosis can be a lengthy process because there is no single routine test for Alzheimer’s disease. Patients may undergo memory assessments, blood tests and brain scans to rule out other possible causes of their symptoms.
Researchers are developing blood tests that can identify proteins associated with Alzheimer’s, with the aim of detecting the disease earlier and more accurately. However, such tests are not yet routinely available across the NHS.
Auerbach’s fundraiser remains open as she continues training for the August ride.
Featured image credit: © Marianne Casamance / Wikimedia Commons. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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