Regain Cycle Milan to Venice 2023
Challenge level: 3 out of 5
Challenge level: 3 out of 5
Need a hand? Get in touch...
| 21 September - 25 September 2023 | On Sale | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 5 days |
Join our team of Regain supporters cycling from the fashion capital of Milan to the islands of Venice in 2023. We'll ride over 350km through Bella Italia and raise thousands of pounds to help make a difference for sports tetraplegics.
Together, we'll cycle along the southern edge of the Dolomites, past mountains, vineyards, and the idyllic lakes of Iseo and Garda and spend a night in Verona. We'll experience Italy in the best way, taking in not just the tourist hot spots, but also the tranquil towns, small roads and rolling hills of the countryside.
Our last day on the bikes will see us cycling to the edge of Venice for a fantastic celebration. Then, you'll have a free day to explore the canals and islands of Venice, filled with the triumph of conquering an epic bike ride for a small but crucial charity.
Where your funds go
The funds you raise on this important charity challenge will go a long way to support Regain, the only charity dedicated to improving the lives of people who have become tetraplegic in a sporting accident.
Having lost the use of their limbs, tetraplegics need support and equipment to perform day-to-day tasks and taking part in sports becomes impossible. Their tetraplegia can also have a huge impact on their mental health.
Regain helps these people access the support and equipment they need to live independently, from emotional support to adapted vehicles to specialist equipment they need to keep working.
To our tetraplegic challengers:
We have a limited number of places for tetraplegic participants to take on this special charity challenge in Italy, so please please fill out this form before registering for the challenge.
We encourage all tetraplegics interested in the challenge to join. However, please note that completing the form does not guarantee you a place. Regain will be in touch with you to discuss your participation.
Pay the registration fee (£199) and the challenge costs (£1,250) and fundraise as much as you can for Regain.
£1,250
Pay the balance
Pay the registration fee (£199) and fundraise £2,500 or more for Regain Sports Charity.
£2,500
Minimum sponsorship target
You don't have to live on a bike or in the gym to sign up for Regain Cycle Milan to Venice 2023. This amazing Regain cycling challenge is designed for people from all cycles of life and of a range of fitness levels looking for a challenge with a great cause to train and get fit for. A number of the people who will take part in the cycle will have a low level of fitness when they sign up.
It's a relatively flat route, but we'll cycle long distances, so we strongly recommend you train. Once you sign up for Regain Cycle Milan to Venice 2023, we'll send you a training plan, which builds up over time and will set you up for success. Remember, the more you train, the more you'll enjoy the real deal! We also recommend you check out our expert cycling tips here and our indoor training ideas here for the days when you don't want to face the weather.
The route we cycle in Italy isn't very hilly. As you can see from this route map (subject to change), it is mostly flat, despite riding up to the lakes with views of the mountains.
Yes please! We encourage tetraplegic hand cyclists to join this special charity challenge in Italy. If you plan to use a hand bike, please fill out this form to let us know before registering for the challenge.
Regain is able to fund a very limited number of places for carers/assistants, so if you require someone to accompany you on the challenge to assist with your daily care, please contact Regain Sports Charity as soon as possible. This person would be expected to cycle with you and assist you during the day, supporting you generally throughout the cycling challenge.
To give you more flexibility, flights are not included, so please arrange your own flights to and from Italy. This gives you the opportunity to book your flights from your local airport and easily extend your stay in Bella Italia before or after the challenge.
Our hotel in Milan will be very easy to get to from the Linate airport and we'll send you clear directions closer to the challenge start date. Please bear in mind that as you are arranging your own flights, you will also be responsible for your luggage when travelling to and from our hotel in Milan and Venice, respectively.
We recommend you book your flight to come into the Linate Airport, as this is closest to the city centre, where our hotel will be. If you're flying to one of the other airports in Milan, there will be good city links, so you'll still find us easily.
Our friendly challenge guides will already be at the hotel when you check in and so we'll be able to answer any questions and help you out if you need.
Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up on their own and our Dream Challenges are renowned for the incomparable camaraderie and lifelong friendships made as our groups take on these incredible feats together.
Once you've signed up for the challenge, we'll send you a link to a private Facebook group for everyone registered for Regain Cycle Milan to Venice 2023.
Please feel free to use this space to swap questions, advice and updates with your fellow cyclists on your training and fundraising.
You may also want to reach out to the other participants in this group to see if there's anyone in your local area you can train and fundraise with.
One of the amazing things about our Regain cycling challenge from Milan to Venice is that people of all ages will come together to do something very special in support of sports tetraplegics. Everyone who is 18 years old or over by the challenge is more than welcome to join the ride.
16 and 17-year-olds may participate if given permission by Dream Challenges. Please get in touch with us to discuss this. Simply email bookings@dream-challenges.com or call us on 01590 646410 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) and we'll be happy to help.
Your registration fee of £199 per person is used to administer the cycling challenge in Italy.
Your challenge costs of £1,250 (ie. 50% of the fundraising target if you choose sponsorship) cover:
In addition to paying your registration fee (£199) and either self-funding your challenge costs (£1,250) or fundraising the minimum sponsorship target of £2,500 for Regain, you will need to budget for your:
We provide you with very good 18 or 21-gear bikes for this challenge and we suggest you bring the saddle or gel cover you are used to riding on.
We can also arrange for you to use a hand bike if required. Please let us know if you need to use a hand bike before registering for the challenge. Get in touch on 01590 646410 or by emailing bookings@dream-challenges.com and we'll be happy to help.
The Dream Challenges team are here to help you achieve your charity cycling challenge in Italy, and we will support you all the way. We're always on hand to answer any questions you have about your training or the challenge.
Once you've signed up, we will send you important email updates with everything you need to know about your overseas challenge for Regain, including the itinerary, an example insurance policy, the structure of an average cycling day, a full kit list, and a realistic training plan to help you get fit for the bike ride. The training programme builds up gradually as the challenge gets closer.
We'll also send you motivational resources, and seasonal fundraising ideas.
During the cycle, we'll have a UK doctor with expedition medicine training accompanying the group at all times, along with a team of outdoor remote first aid trained challenge guides.
Travel Insurance
You will need to take out your own personal travel insurance covering health, accident, loss and repatriation. We advise that you arrange personal travel insurance as soon as you can after you register to ensure you have coverage for your booking as well as the cycling challenge in Italy.
Dream Challenges has found a policy that provides appropriate cover for this type of activity and also covers you for cancellation due to medically-diagnosed COVID-19. We will send you the details once you have registered. You can also call us for details on 01590 646410 during our office hours (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday).
You can, however, take out your own insurance, providing it covers you for a charity cycle in Italy. Please ask the insurer about the nature of the cover. It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate coverage for your challenge.
Visa
It is your responsibility to obtain a visa for Italy if you need one. Ensure that you apply and obtain your visa in plenty of time. Further information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/italy
No, your main luggage will be transported each day by our support team. Each participant, however, will organise their own flight to and from Italy, so you'll be responsible for your luggage on the plane and your journey to the hotel.
We advise you to pack light and you'll also need a small bag to go on your bike or a waist bag for things like your camera, sun cream, tissues etc.
Any extra items you may need during the day can be carried on the support vehicle, which you will have access to at the snack stops and lunch.
A cycle helmet is essential and must be worn at all times. Cycling shorts are also recommended and everyone will need their own water bottles or a CamelBak-type hydration system. We will supply you with a list of everything you will need to take before you go.
Cyclists will have the use of 18 or 21-gear bikes and we suggest you bring the saddle or gel cover you are used to riding on.
Hand bikes and electric bikes are also welcome on this challenge. If you plan to use a hand bike, please let us know by calling us on 01590 646410 or via email at bookings@dream-challenges.com before registering for the challenge.
Apart from that, no specialist equipment is required. We'll supply you with a list of everything you'll need to take before you go.
Yes of course! As you are responsible for organising your own flights to and from Italy, it is up to you which dates you book them for, as long as they give enough time for you to take part in the full challenge.
You need to arrive at our first hotel on Day 1 to say hello to our Dream Challenges team and get a good rest. We meet as a group the next morning for breakfast and our challenge briefing. We’ll send you details and directions closer to the challenge start date.
We’ll have a team of outdoor remote first aid trained challenge guides and a UK doctor with expedition medicine training accompanying the group at all times throughout the cycling challenge in Italy.
You'll probably be pleased to learn that the route isn't very hilly. As you can see from this route map (subject to change), it is mostly flat, despite riding up to the lakes with views of the mountains.
As we're not medically trained, we're afraid we can't offer you advice on this. We recommend you contact your GP or your local travel clinic, who will have the latest travel health advice.
We also recommend you visit the NHS Fit for Travel website here, to keep up to date with current travel health news and advice on staying healthy abroad.
NHS Fit for Travel website: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home
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