26 July 2010
An EDF Energy London 2012 Ambassador from Taunton and a data administrator from Newton Abbot are set to take on one of the toughest amateur triathlon events in Europe when they head to the French Alps today (Tuesday July 27).
Tony Harding, 54, from Taunton, and Tom Burnam, 21, from Newton Abbot, 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).
Raising money for one of EDF Energy’s charity partners ParalympicsGB, they face 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, with a gradient of up to 18 per cent, and finally a 7.5km run to the finish.
Both work at EDF Energy’s Gadeon House office on Exeter Business Park. Tony combines his job as a senior business analyst with his role as a company London 2012 Ambassador, helping to promote EDF Energy’s involvement as the first sustainability partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
He and Tom will join three colleagues from EDF Energy offices in Hove, London and Sunderland for the event, which is sponsored by EDF in France, and team up with colleagues from EDF in France and Hungary.
Tony said: “It’s going to be tough but I’m excited. To be joining with colleagues from across the country and across Europe is a big part of what hopefully will make this so special. It’s a huge challenge. We’ve all done bike rides and triathlons before but nothing like this.
“We’ve all been training hard and sacrificing a lot of time - and our social lives - to get in shape. But we are really proud to be raising money for such a fantastic charity.”
Tom said: “The closer it gets the more nervous and excited I seem to get. With competitors from different countries, and something about the EDF Group connection perhaps, it should be a real opportunity to meet up with other members of the group in an amazing atmosphere. I can’t wait!”
Tom’s training has focused on his bike work, plus a few running races, including a recent six-mile road race at Chudleigh, which he completed in under 37 minutes, followed days later by a final training session 10km run in 29 minutes.
He added: “Everything seems to be coming good at the right time. I have a time of two and a half hours in my head which I would love to come inside but I will be more than happy with anything around that mark seeing as its my first one! Even though it’s not my strongest event, I am really looking forward to the swim. It’s in this incredible lake, surrounded by peaks, and normally no one is allowed to swim in it.”
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 Tony, Tom 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.
Last month, Tony and Tom were two of several EDF Energy employees who took part in legs of a cycle ride from Hinkley Point to the Eden Project, via the company’s Exeter and Plymouth offices, for Team Green Britain Bike Week.
For more information and to donate, go to www.justgiving.com/alep-dhuez2010
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.