May 18th 2024.
At 82 years old, Anne Jones accomplished an incredible feat by cycling up Mont Ventoux - a notorious climb in the world of cycling. But she didn't do it for personal glory or recognition. No, she did it to raise money for the people of Palestine.
From Lewisham in south London, Anne took on the challenge of conquering Mont Ventoux - a 12.9-mile uphill ride with a long vertical climb. As a retired psychotherapist and social worker, Anne felt a strong sense of responsibility towards the people of Palestine and wanted to do her part in helping them.
On Wednesday, Anne spent six hours pedaling her way up the mountain, reaching the summit at an impressive 6,270ft above sea level. Her age-defying feat raised almost £13,000 for Amos Trust's emergency appeal for Gaza. But it wasn't just about the money. Anne also wanted to challenge people's assumptions about what elderly people are capable of.
In an interview with PA Real Life, Anne expressed her happiness and satisfaction with the accomplishment. She also shared the heartwarming messages she received from people in Gaza who were following her journey. Anne's message to others is to never let age hold you back and to always keep pushing yourself to do more.
Anne has spent her life dedicated to helping others, traveling the world and volunteering in places like India, Romania, and France. Even at 82, she continues to give English lessons to refugees in Calais. Last summer, Anne took on the Big Ride for Palestine, a multi-day cycling event in South Wales.
While some may think it's "mad" for an 82-year-old to take on such a challenge, Anne sees it as a better use of her time than just feeling helpless about the state of the world. She wrote on her JustGiving page that she wanted to use her energy to raise funds for the physical and emotional healing of the people of Palestine.
Anne's dream of cycling up Mont Ventoux has been a long-time goal, and she was finally able to achieve it with the help of Amos Trust director Chris Rose and Megan Williams from the human rights charity. The money raised from her journey will go towards supporting Amos Trust partners in Gaza, including a youth trauma center and a Paracycling team.
Anne's friends and family, including her two children and six grandchildren, were incredibly supportive throughout her journey. They even sent her energy bars and gels to keep her going. Anne was overwhelmed by the support and motivation that came from her loved ones and the community.
But for Anne, this wasn't just about her personal accomplishment. She feels a strong responsibility to do what she can to help the people of Gaza, and she also wants to challenge the stereotypes and assumptions people make about older people. She believes that age should never limit what a person is capable of, and she proves that with her own determination and strength.
Anne also spoke passionately about the situation in Gaza and how it affects innocent children. She received messages and videos from people in Gaza, which gave her hope and motivation to keep going. She believes that humanitarianism is about helping those who are suffering, and that's exactly what she set out to do with this challenge.
In October 2018, there was a violent attack in Gaza, which resulted in the deaths of both Palestinian children and Israeli citizens. Amos Trust, the organization Anne raised money for, condemned both the attack and the retribution that followed. They believe that innocent lives should never be taken, no matter the circumstances.
Megan Williams from Amos Trust, who was part of Anne's support crew, expressed her admiration for Anne's determination and strength at 82 years old. Anne's accomplishment is truly inspiring and shows that age is just a number. Mont Ventoux may be known as one of the most grueling climbs in the Tour de France, but for Anne, it was a way to support a cause she deeply cares about and to challenge societal norms about aging.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
