AWARD-winning chef Simon Gueller, from the renowned Box Tree restaurant in Ilkley, is to take part in a ride of the Tour de France route for the charity Cure Leukaemia He is the latest cyclist to join former England international footballer and leukaemia survivor, Geoff Thomas, on his Le Tour – One Day Ahead challenge from July 3 to 25.

Simon has only taken up cycling seriously over the past five years, since recovering from a suspected spinal tumor where he was warned by specialist neurosurgeons that he may never walk, or work in a career that he loved, again. After extensive surgery and lengthy rehabilitation, he finally made it back into the kitchen – and onto his bike. Simon’s competitive instinct saw him quickly discover a talent for cycling, and he now competes in races across the UK and Europe.

Simon joining the ride further increases the culinary credentials of the team, which also includes former National Chef of the Year Hayden Groves.

Simon said: “I am incredibly excited to be joining the team to ride the Tour. I read Geoff’s book soon after I began cycling, and remember feeling both inspired but also envious that he had the opportunity to ride in the most famous cycling race in the world. It’s surreal that I will be joining him to do just that this year.”

“I’m training really hard for the challenge, but thinking about the great work delivered by Cure Leukaemia, is great motivation. It’s incredible to think that the fundraising money we achieve might actually lead to a cure for the disease. I have devoted a large amount of my time to cycling over the last few years, so it is great that it is now going to such a worthwhile cause.”

Geoff, and a team of 20 other cyclists, will take to the same roads as the Tour de France professionals, just one day ahead, in a bid to raise £1 million for Cure Leukaemia.

Geoff said: “It’s going to be a tough challenge, but having such dedicated and confident riders alongside will help all of us achieve our goal – not just to complete the ride but to raise £1 million for Cure Leukaemia.”

Visit Simon’s fundraising page at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/simongueller Entries for Le Tour – One Day Ahead are still open and to register for one of the final places, or to find out more, log on to the website beforethetour.com