Fundraiser Stories: Final Update Giro d’Willtalia – The Final Finish Line

Seven years. Three countries. Over 13,000 kilometres. Nearly 100,000 metres of climbing. One team of friends with an extraordinary goal.

This summer, five riders – Will Jackson-Moore, James Lumpkin, Scott Burgess, Andy Carson and Simon Abrahams – did what many said couldn’t be done. They completed the third and final part of their epic cycling journey: recreating all three of cycling’s legendary 1968 Grand Tours, ridden in full, in the same number of days as the original races.

Their challenge began back in 2018 with the Tour de France. Over 5,850km in 24 days, with no shortcuts and no easy stages, the team proved their grit on some of the toughest roads in Europe.

In 2022, they tackled Spain’s Vuelta. That meant 3,200km in just 18 days – again with no rest days. By then, the group had grown closer, battle-tested by long days in the saddle, fatigue, and endless climbs.

And this summer, they closed the circle with the Giro d’Italia – over 4,000km and nearly 48,000m of climbing in 22 days, with just one rest day. They retraced the race of 1968, the year Will was born, and brought their seven-year mission to its triumphant conclusion.

Why They Rode

The challenge was never just about distance. Every kilometre was ridden with a purpose: to raise funds for Cancer Research UK, Herts Young Homeless, and Harrison’s Fund.

For Will, there was a personal reason too. His cousin Alex founded Harrison’s Fund after his son Harrison was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Cycling the Grand Tours became more than an endurance test – it was a way of standing in solidarity with families like Harrison’s.

As Will explained:

“Every kilometre, every climb was for families fighting battles every day. We ride for those living with Duchenne, for young people facing homelessness, and for breakthroughs in cancer research.”

Stories from the Giro d'Willtalia Road

The Giro d'Willtalia tested them like nothing before. The Dolomites brought brutal days in the saddle – endless switchbacks, punishing gradients, and weather that could change in minutes.

James remembered one stage where, after hours of climbing, the team crested a mountain pass only to find freezing rain lashing down.

“We were soaked, shaking with cold, and still had 40km to go,” he said. “But we just laughed, because what else can you do? We knew we were in it together.”

Scott spoke about the team spirit that carried them through:

“When someone hit the wall, the others would drop back, ride alongside, and push them on. It was never about one of us finishing – it was about all five of us crossing that line.”

The Impact

By the end of their Giro ride, the team had raised an incredible £25,000. Those funds will go directly to support cutting-edge research, vital services for vulnerable young people, and families living with Duchenne.

The miles cycled, the blisters, the early starts, the exhaustion – it all translated into real-world impact. The team proved that endurance sport can do more than test limits; it can change lives.

A Legacy of Grit and Giving

Few amateur cyclists would dare to attempt just one of these challenges. To complete all three – the Tour, the Vuelta, and the Giro – over seven years is something extraordinary.

It’s a story of friendship, resilience, and purpose. A story of five men who turned a bold idea into a reality that has left a lasting mark.

On behalf of everyone at Harrison’s Fund, we want to say thank you. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your determination. And thank you for making every kilometre count.

Your ride gives strength to families who face steep climbs of their own every single day.