40tude's Colmar Cycle Challenge, France - September 2023

Well done to everyone who took part in our 2023 Cycle Challenge in the spectacular Colmar region in north-eastern France, the heartland of cycling and the Tour de France.

Riding up to 494km in just three and a half days, our peloton of 25 cyclists and their expert guides from pie this year tackled some Tour de France routes and features, including the Grand and Petit Ballons, as well enjoying the delights of this stunning part of France, the country where 40tude's challenges very first began back in 2011.

The funds raised for 40tude as a result of this cycle challenge, and our Transylvanian trekking challenge in September are being directed to support the accelerated roll-out of enhanced screening within the NHS. CT Colonography (CTC) is a method of screening for bowel cancer, and 40tude is supporting the development of a new national training and accreditation programme, designed to increase the availability of high-quality bowel screening within the NHS.  In the immediate term, 40tude's funding will enable seven regional centres of excellence to be established, enabling more training in CT Colonography to be provided to radiologists and radiographers across the UK.  

In something of a departure from our usual style, we proudly present to you this short video starring our sporting peloton of 2023!  Please do heed the important message they share: make sure you get screened for colon cancer, and encourage your loved ones to do so too.  For details of the screening options available within the UK please see our Screening section on this website

40tude's Transylvanian Challenge, Romania - September 2023

In September 2023 a team of 40tude trekkers successfully summitted five peaks in just three days in the Carpathian Mountains of Romania, part of one of Europe’s mightiest mountain ranges. 

During this demanding adventure challenge for 40tude the team made it to the top of five different peaks; Omu (2,505m), Oculit (2,503m), Bucks Fang (2,168m), Batrana (2,181m) and La Om (2,238m) - in a variety of autumnal weather conditions!

Learn more as you enjoy this film showing our team in action!  

FILM OF 40TUDE'S TRANSYLVANIAN CHALLENGE 2023

Muckle Flugga Brompton Challenge for 40tude, Shetland - June 2023

In what has been one of the most unusual challenges ever undertaken for 40tude, in early June a team of six successfully crossed from the southern tip (Sumburgh Head) to the northern tip (Muckle Flugga) of the Shetland Isles on Brompton bikes and inflatable kayaks. In this remote setting some 150 miles north of John O'Groats they overcame wind, waves and tide as they steered their pack rafts (with their Brommies strapped on board!) across the strong currents of the Yell Sound.

This extraordinary challenge was the brainchild of Brompton’s CEO, Will Butler-Adams. Renowned for its ingenious folding bikes, Brompton is now blazing a trail also in enabling its staff to get screened for colon (bowel) cancer.  Find out all about this extraordinary challenge here and enjoy the story of our brave team in our film:

Mission accomplished - Huffin and puffin for colon cancer

40tude's Mardi Himal Base Camp Challenge, Nepal - April 2023

In possibly our most ambitious challenge to date, an intrepid team of 40tuders made it to the Mardi Himal Base Camp in Nepal’s spectacular Annapurna Mountain Range. At 4,500 metres, this is the highest point ever to be reached on a 40tude adventure.  

The going was tough, with the high altitude and snow lying on their route from Upper View Point onwards to Base Camp. Showing true fortitude they nevertheless achieved their goal in the name of 40tude, and we are hugely proud of each and every one of our team.

They took this challenge on to shine a spotlight on Lynch Syndrome, a genetic disease which causes around 1 in 30 of cases of colon cancer, many of them under the age of 50.

Our challenge team was being led by Tom Campbell, who discovered that he carries the Lynch Syndrome gene.  He is passionate about the positive effect that knowledge that he is a carrier has had on his life and is dedicated to finding the missing 95% of other carriers in the UK. Watch this short film to find out more

St. Mark’s Hospital has the UK’s first specialist LS Clinic and 40tude is the major funder of the National Lynch Programme, through which Professor Kevin Monahan is leading the development of three interconnected studies which have the potential to develop a new model for LS cancer prevention.  You can find out more about this important programme here 

You can watch the film of this extraordinary challenge here:

40tude's Mardi Himal Lynch Awareness Challenge

40tude's Alpes Maritimes Cycle Challenge, France - September 2022 

Congratulations to all the riders in our 2022 peloton who  successfully completed our Alpes Maritimes Cycle Challenge in September! 

In a fitting return to the country where 40tude's fundraising challenges very first began, our cyclists took on a range of routes designed to challenge all abilities of rider, with some Cat 3,2,1 & Hors Categorie climbs and UCI race stages featuring in the mix on this 3½ day ride. 

As usual there were three different routes each day curated by our long-standing friends at PIE, graded to suit different [cycling!] competencies.  Our keenest riders took on some of the most iconic Cat 1 and Hors Categorie climbs in Europe.  Others enjoyed Provence’s rolling country-side and cafés, before coming together to ride along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice marking their finish.

Along the way they have helped to raise awareness of colon (bowel) cancer and how important it is to get screened for this type of cancer, which can be treated if it is found early. 

40tude's Summit of Mount M'Goun, Morocco - June 2022

In early June 2022 some brave 40tuders made it to the summit of Mt. M’Goun, a hidden jewel in Morocco's Central Atlas Mountains.

At 4,071m this is the second highest point in North Africa and we're very proud of all the team in successfully reaching the peak during their four-day expedition in the M’Goun Massif.  Summit day was long, arduous and very hot so this was truly no mean feat!

Well done to everyone in the team on this brilliant achievement, we’re very proud of you for taking on this challenge in the name of 40tude, raising awareness and funds to help cure colon cancer, still the UK’s biggest cancer killer of non-smokers. 

40tude's Heroes of Telemark Challenge, Norway - March 2022

Well done to our intrepid team who completed our winter challenge with a difference: retracing the route of a WWII sabotage operation on the Hardangervidda plateau in Norway. 

Our team were taught a range of new skills by highly specialised ex-military winter survival experts, so they could look after themselves in the harsh Nordic winter environment and widen their knowledge of the daring and successful World War II sabotage operation, that was celebrated in the 1965 film 'Heroes of Telemark'.

They were required to become competent in a variety of arctic skills including Nordic skiing, snow shoeing and survival techniques. They put these into practice in the second, operational phase, as they took the route taken by special forces operatives in February 1943 to sabotage the German hydrogen plant near Rjukan making 'heavy water' for use in atomic bombs.  This involved a 4-hour ski in white arctic warfare camouflage suits, in challenging mountainous terrain, following the exact route used by the saboteurs 79 years ago. 

40tude's Expedition Musandam, Oman - January 2022

Congratulations to everyone who took on our Expedition Musandam - our first fundraising challenge of 2022 - in the remote Musandam Peninsula in Oman.

As you might expect this 40tude challenge was no walk in the park. Our trekkers successfully negotiated the rocky terrain, scrambling up and down huge boulders and navigating steep cliffs along the stunning coastline of the Musandam Peninsula. As if this was not difficult enough, they were unlucky to experience biblical rain while in this remote part of Oman. They did not let this dampen their spirits however, even when stoically enduring a very wet night sleeping out on a traditional Oman Dhow - not exactly under the bright starry skies that were anticipated!

Looked after all the while by the superb team from Tribal Tracks, experts in arranging adventures with a difference.

We say our events are fantastic, but don't just take our word for it: for an insight into what it's like to join a 40tude challenge please take a look at these films of some of our most recent adventures:

And to enjoy more please choose from:

40tude's Sahara 2019 Challenge

40tude's 2018 Sardinia Cycle Challenge

40tude's Ascent of Mount Toubkal - January 2018

Our 2017 Portugal Cycle Challenge

40tude's 2017 London SUP Marathon

Our 2016 Catalonia Cycle Challenge

The 40tude 2016 London SUP Marathon

40tude's 2015 Rewind Cycle Challenge

40tude's 2015 SUP Marathon

Our 2014 Giro Toscana Cycle Challenge

40tude's 2014 SUP Marathon

Our 2013 Mallorca Cycle Challenge

Our 2013 SUP Marathon

About St. Mark's Hospital and our inagural London to Paris ride 2011 (when we were known as Momentum)

Find out more about the brilliant specialist event partners who organise the logistics of these adventures for 40tude here:

Our challenge event partners