The cash, to be shared by three charitable causes, came from a live auction of adventure travel trips at home and abroad, London club nights and sporting event tickets donated by the show’s standholders.
A donation of £500 will go towards ex-smoker Ollie Blackmore’s cycling challenge to raise £25,000 for Big C UK and $25,000 for BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver Island.
In the spirit of intrepid TNT travellers, he is aiming to be the first person ever to cycle solo and unaided around Vancouver Island.
In 15 consecutive days during June, Ollie will climb the height of Everest five times as he cycles a distance of more than 2300km (just 14km fewer than the Tour De France riders in the same period, but without the luxury of a day off, a hotel room or a support team).
Carrying 35kg of gear, he will camp alone in the wild, hopefully avoiding the island’s cougars, bears and wolves.
“I’m so grateful for each and every donation for Cycle Challenge Canada, especially one as generous as
this.” Ollie said. “Having friends and family who have been affected by the disease, and quitting smoking only four years ago, the fight against cancer is a cause close to my heart. I look forward to working with TNT on providing updates throughout the trip.”
London Legacy, and more specifically the James Dunsby Appeal, will be the beneficiary of £350.
James died on the Brecon Beacons in Wales during trials to join the SAS, leaving behind his wife Bryher Dunsby.
“Your generous donation which will be used to care for the families of incapacitated and deceased Veterans throughout Europe,” London Legacy president Lindsay Birrell told TNT readers.
The final £350 is to go to WWF Australia, particularly for its Fight for the Reef campaign to save the Great Barrier Reef from “the most widespread, rapid and damaging set of industrial developments in Queensland’s history”.
“It’s another cause that we know our readers will feel strongly about,” said TNT boss Kevin Ellis, who came up with the idea of the auction.
Image credit: Thinkstock
