26 July 2010
An EDF Energy employee from Houghton-le-Spring is set to take on one of the toughest amateur triathlon events in Europe when he heads to the French Alps today (July 27).
Adam Khalil will be competing with more than 1,200 entrants at an altitude of more than 5,000 feet in the gruelling Alpe d'Huez Triathlon in France on Thursday (July 29), an annual event sponsored by EDF in France.
Raising money for one of EDF Energy’s charity partners ParalympicsGB, Adam faces a 1,200-metre swim in a chilling glacier lake, Lac de Verney, a 30km bike ride, which includes the famous Tour de France ascent Alpe d’Huez, and finally a 7.5km run to the finish.
The 23-year-old customer adviser has worked for EDF Energy at its office on Doxford International Business Park for more than four years. He will join four colleagues from offices in Exeter, Hove and London for the event, which is sponsored by EDF in France, and team up with colleagues from EDF in France and Hungary.
He said: “I’ve done one sprint triathlon before but that didn’t go too well as I got a puncture half way round the bike course. But I do monthly duathlons and training has gone well. I’m not a great swimmer but will try to make the time up on the cycle and run. It should be a good atmosphere and hopefully well supported. Meeting up with colleagues from around this country and EDF abroad should also make it really special.”
The five EDF Energy employees are aiming to raise £2,500 for ParalympicsGB. EDF Energy is the first sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and an official charity partner of ParalympicsGB, using its energy efficiency expertise to help the team perform smarter and become truly sustainable by 2012 and beyond.
The five EDF Energy employees are aiming to raise £2,500 for ParalympicsGB. The money raised will help ParalympicsGB to provide the best possible preparations for British disabled athletes ahead of London 2012, helping them to achieve their lifetime’s best and inspiring people with a disability to get in to sport.
Phil Lane, CEO of ParalympicsGB, said: “We wish Adam and his teammates the best of luck for this gruelling challenge, and are sincerely grateful for the support.”
EDF Energy is the first sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and an official charity partner of ParalympicsGB, using its energy efficiency expertise to help the team perform smarter and become truly sustainable by 2012 and beyond.
For more information and to donate, go to www.justgiving.com/alep-dhuez2010
Ends
For more information please contact Dan Pritchard, EDF Energy press officer, on 01392 813783.
Notes to editors
About EDF Energy
EDF Energy is one of the UK’s largest energy companies, producing around one-fifth of the nation's electricity from its nuclear, coal and gas power stations, as well as combined heat and power plants and wind farms. The company provides power to a quarter of the Britain’s population via its electricity distribution networks and supplies gas and electricity to more than 5.5 million business and residential customer product accounts.
EDF Energy’s safe and secure operation of its eight existing nuclear power stations at sites across the country makes it the UK’s largest generator of low carbon electricity. EDF Energy is also leading the UK's nuclear renaissance and has published plans to build four new nuclear reactors, subject to the right investment framework. These new plants could generate enough low carbon electricity for about 40% of Britain’s homes. They would make an important contribution to the UK’s future needs for clean, secure and affordable energy. The project is already creating business and job opportunities for British companies and workers.
Through Our Sustainability Commitments, EDF Energy has launched one of the biggest environmental and social programmes of any British energy company. EDF is the official energy utilities partner and sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The company is also helping its customers and others use energy more sustainably through products and initiatives such as Team Green Britain.
EDF Energy is part of EDF Group, one of Europe’s largest power companies. Following the integration with British Energy in 2009, the company employs around 20,000 people at locations across the UK.