© Pam Williamson
The Bransons, a Canadian film director, a Wimbledon Champion & a Nigerian business magnate...
What do they all have in common?
And the answer is...that they are all going to take on a huge cycling and fundraising challenge alongside our very own Maria Olianti - SeeVerbier.com's Intern!
In August this year the Virgin Strive Challenge will set off from the O2 Arena in London and complete a series of running marathon's, a row across the English channel, several weeks of cycling, a week long hike and finally arrive in Zermatt in order to climb the famous Matterhorn mountain.
Our intrepid Intern, Marie, who has been working here at SeetheWorld.com since the start of March as part of her Business degree at INSEEC Paris, has bravely volunteered to cycle the leg of the Strive challenge that goes between Troyes in Central France all the way to Verbier in Switzerland - a total of 598km to be completed in just 4 days!
Born and raised in the Chamonix valley, with her South African mother and Italian mountain guide father, Marie has always enjoyed sports and the outdoors, but this latest challenge is set to test her endurance and cycling skills to the max! With only a few short months (and just under 4 weeks left!) to train, this is a mammoth task for any cyclist, let alone for someone who is new to the sport like Marie.
She will however be in good company as there are many well known faces, celebrities and sporting personalities taking part in the Strive Challenge. Amongst them the comedian Jack Whitehall, physicist Brian Cox and of course a whole host of the Branson clan, including Richard's children Holly and Sam (the mastermind behind the challenge) and their spouses Freddie Andrewes and Isabella Branson.
And specifically on the cycling leg that Marie will be joining she will have Canadian photographer and film director Rob Stewart, the Nigerian business Magnate Ogbonnaya Amazu and ex ladies Wimbledon Champion Marion Bartoli all by her side.
In taking part in this challenge, 22 year old Marie will be fundraising for a charity called Big Change. An organisation that raises money to help young people in the UK develop and learn the essential Life Skills they need to become healthy, happy and confident adults.
This really is a challenge of a lifetime...and one I am sure she will appreciate once it is completed, if not actually at the time! So please help us support her by sponsoring her at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com.
