“On the 23rd April 2012 the Dallaglio Flintoff Cycle Slam, sponsored by Virgin Media, returns and this time Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff will join Lawrence as they cycle 2,862 km across Europe from Olympia, Greece to London. “

Well that’s how the official website, quite rightly, introduces the event.  However, as well as “Freddie” and Lawrence, there will be one Charlie Hodges, Fresh Olive sales director joining them for arguably the most gruelling section. The aim of this trip is to raise £2.012 million for the Dallaglio Foundation, AF Foundation and Virgin Unite work. Have a look at the Dallaglio Flintoff Cycle Slam  to see what they do.  Lawrence Dallaglio’s foundation alone has, in a few short years raised over £3 million for – amongst others – Help for Heroes, RPA Benevolent Fund, Leukaemia Research, DebRa & Cancer Research UK.

The leg of the journey that Charlie is involved in takes him from Lucca, in Italy (original home of the Petit Lucques olive) to the ski resort of Aprica, in the Italian Alps. Over five days he and the other riders will travel 562km / 352mi and climb a thigh burning and gluteus maximus aching 6,576m / 21,569ft. Ok, so he gets to travel through some stunning scenery and probably eat some fantastic food, passing as they do through Emilia-Romagna, home to Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano, but on this occasion, we wish him well, instead of wishing we could go on the trip.

We will of course let you know how he does and indeed how the whole fund raising venture goes. So as they used to say in Rome, Hodges Gluteus Maximus we salute you!

Please sponsor Charlie and give generously to a great cause by clicking here: Charlie’s fundraising page