Transpyrenees 2025 event in aid of Naturaleza y Animales
My name is Sara and I'm a 'Cycloholic'
I'm 52 and have completed 2 charity rides to help raise funds for the local charity Naturaleza y Animales. Each time I attempt these feats I try to challenge myself further, so this is the most daunting challenge yet.
How can you help
Checkout the fantastic work the charity does and has to deal with first.... then decide how you can help
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/15zvnfwHut/
Donating any amount of money, however small it may seem, is going to change the lives of every animal that is cared for by the charity. It will go towards every single veterinary bill, each bag of food, all the medicines and the general upkeep of the shelter.
About the challenge
At the end of June I will be doing a Transpyrenees event. It's a fixed route of 1074km and 27,000m of elevation (those hilly Pyrenees). This formidable event is totally unsupported, meaning I am on my own day and night with my cycling bags, maps, lights, emergency blanket and .... me. I can't book anything in advance, no one can follow me and help me if I need it. To make it more difficult I have 5.5 days to complete it.
The beautiful route in the link below....
I can stay in hotels (if I find them in the little villages that I pass) and will need to buy all my food and drinks as I cycle. I'm hoping to find lots of bakeries with all the cakes I normally avoid, as I'll be using thousands of calories a day.
It starts in San Sebastian on the 29th June at the Atlantic coast and finishes at Llança on the Mediterranean coast.
Why am I doing this mad challenge? Firstly I do enjoy cycling (although I may not for a while after this event), and secondly it is for such a good cause, Naturaleza y Animales.
My training regime
Completing this arduous event requires peak fitness and strength. I am currently following a 5 day a week cycling programme that involves upwards of 10 hours of riding weekly. This will steadily increase as I build up towards the event. I am also strength training 4 days a week in order to help build up my overall strength and fitness.
I have specific training events in the calendar 1) 159km event around Castellon in March and 2) 500km 40 hour race in April starting in Riba Roja with a route around many of the hills that I ride locally.
About Naturaleza y Animales
Naturaleza y Animales started in 2009 as non-profit organization.
Run entirely by a group of volunteers, they try to improve the lives of homeless animals. Animals are rescued from the fields, streets, etc., given shelter, veterinary care and then when they are recovered the charity works tirelessly to try to find them a responsible and loving family.
The charity uses foster homes, mainly for puppies, wounded or sick animals. Over time they have built a shelter housing up to 30 dogs and are currently undertaking considerable work to upgrade and improve the facilities at the shelter. It is managed by volunteers which everyday look after the dogs, play with them and socialise them … trying to compensate for as long as they have to live without their own family.
Their main income comes from membership fees, money generated from organised activities such as the monthly Rastro or dog walks and help from the wonderful, generous people who love animals.
But sadly this is never enough and so extra fund raising is a life line.
They get involved with the fight against animal abandonment and neglect on a constant basis, cooperating with other animal protection organisations and the Police. They are involved in awareness work on how to best look after animals, as well as official reporting in the criminal justice system when sadly required.
This is an association that works so hard here in Spain to minimise animal neglect and cruelty in every way they can. But they need money to do all this work. Feeding the dogs, maintaining the shelters, looking after numerous wild cat colonies, paying for escalating vets bills and going that extra mile to ensure that all animals get the treatment they deserve.
Every volunteer works so hard and is so dedicated in their care for the animals.... the least I can do is cycle for a few days to help
Organizer
