Bratton man takes on ‘Tour des Alpes’

Peter and his friends prepare for a training ride

A Bratton man will be cycling over 300 miles through the French Alps next month to raise money for charity.

Peter Brabner, 66, and 15 friends from the area will be setting off on Friday 5th September, and aim to complete the challenge within  a week.

The group, many of whom attend Bratton Baptist Church, will be taking a route incorporating a number of famous Tour de France climbs, with the highest point being the Col de la Bonette mountain pass at 8907ft.

Peter has completed  group cycles through the Pyrenees in both of his two years of retirement. After experiencing problems with snow, he decided to tackle the Alps this time around.

Peter said, “The Alps are higher, so we decided to go in September when the weather should be more settled and our target more achievable. I am now often to be seen cycling up to the top of the White Horse from Bratton, down into Westbury, and then back again as I build up more stamina. This year seems far more daunting, but I am just trying to set my own pace, and seeing how it all goes.”

Peter, a retired NHS manager, is on the lookout for sponsorship and is raising money for the RUH and two other charities.

He said, “Although this trip is a holiday I am very conscious that I have much to be grateful for, and opportunities in this life that others do not have. I want to raise money whilst I’m struggling up those mountains.

“Having survived prostate cancer myself seven years ago, via the amazing skills of surgeons and specialists at the Royal United Hospital, I am passionate to see their planned new Cancer Centre completed. I want to support the Bangladesh Rural Youth Fellowship Center, which helps poor people in Bangladesh, especially children, young people, mothers, widows and older people.

“I also want to aid the success of Friends of Mulanje Orphans, which works with orphaned children and young people in Malawi – members of our church in Bratton have long supported this.”

If you would like to donate to Peter’s cause, you can do so at www.justgiving.com/teams/PeterBrabner

Pictured: Peter (centre, in white) on last year’s group trip through the Pyrenees.