Join Gareth Thomas MBE in a Monumental Charity Ride from London to Paris to Battle Kids Cancer
Hello, everyone! Many of you know me, Martin Harris, from Down and Dirty, Team Dirt Racing, and other madcap adventures. Today, I’m here to talk about something incredibly important and close to my heart.
The Journey So Far
This spring, our very own Gareth Thomas joined the Dads Indoors Riding Trainers (DIRT) community on a trip to Mallorca. Upon returning to the UK, he received life-altering news: he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Follicular Lymphoma Cancer, a type of blood cancer. Since then, Gareth has been courageously battling the disease while undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments.
The Ride of a Lifetime
Despite the challenges, Gareth is not letting anything hold him back. He’s taking on an extraordinary journey—cycling from London to Paris—as part of a Kids Cancer Charity effort. This event is no small feat; it’s organized by the Rugby Centurions and will be attended by many Rugby legends.
Why We Need Your Support
I would never ask you wonderful people for anything that I wouldn’t be 100% behind. Times are tough, and we get that. But if you can spare anything, it would go a long way.
How to Contribute
Team DIRT Racing will be donating funds to Gareth’s chosen charity, Fatboys Cancer Charity. We invite you to join us in this noble cause.
Donate here!
A Selfless and Inspiring Word From Gareth
Hello, I’m Gareth Thomas. I have been invited to join the famous Rugby Centurions charity bike ride from Twickenham to Paris, starting October 9th as part of the Rugby World Cup celebrations. I will be riding alongside rugby greats such as Rory Best, George Gregan, and John Smit, just to name a few. My chosen charity is Fatboys Cancer Charity. Fatboys Cancer Charity raises money to buy children suffering with cancer a Christmas present.
Many of these children have an advanced stage of cancer, and our volunteer “Santa’s Elves” deliver these presents to the children at hospitals or hospices.
Unfortunately, I’m currently undergoing chemotherapy myself for stage 4 Follicular Lymphoma. My prognosis is looking very good, and I’m certainly up for the challenge to raise a few quid for this amazing cause. I know loads of these requests appear lately, and I’m well aware times are hard at the moment.
If you could donate a couple of pounds or even share my post, I would be hugely grateful. Time for a dramatic caveat – I have chemotherapy scheduled for the week before the ride!!!
Judging on how my treatment has gone previously, I will be good to go. It’s around 260 km over 4 days, which is well within my capability even with ongoing chemotherapy; however, I think it prudent to mention this should things not go to plan.
Thank you for the support so far.
Let’s come together to support Gareth and all the kids battling cancer. Every little bit helps, and your contribution could make a world of difference.
Thank you for your time and generosity.
Warm regards, Martin Harris
Donate here!
Semi-retired after more than 20 years as the owner and director of a private Orthopedic Physical Therapy practice, Chris now enjoys the freedom to dedicate himself to his passions—virtual cycling and writing.
Driven to give back to the sport that has enriched his life with countless experiences and relationships, he founded a non-profit organization, TheDIRTDadFund. In the summer of 2022, he rode 3,900 miles from San Francisco to his “Gain Cave” on Long Island, New York, raising support for his charity.
His passion for cycling shines through in his writing, which has been featured in prominent publications like Cycling Weekly, Cycling News, road.cc, Zwift Insider, Endurance.biz, and Bicycling. In 2024, he was on-site in Abu Dhabi, covering the first live, in-person UCI Cycling Esports World Championship.
His contributions to cycling esports have not gone unnoticed, with his work cited in multiple research papers exploring this evolving discipline. He sits alongside esteemed esports scientists as a member of the Virtual Sports Research Network and contributes to groundbreaking research exploring the new frontier of virtual physical sport. Chris co-hosts The Virtual Velo Podcast, too.
