A London octogenarian who has completed a 19km charity cycle ride in France, climbing to 2,115m in 30-degree temperatures, for aid to Gaza has said she is a “fighter for people’s rights”.
Anne Jones, 83, a retired psychotherapist and social worker, tackled the Col du Tourmalet in the French Pyrenees to raise vital funds for human rights charity Amos Trust’s emergency response in Gaza on June 18.
The grandmother of six cycled for around three hours in 32-degree temperatures, with regular breaks along the way to keep cool and hydrated, and has raised more than £12,000 for the charity so far.
At 2,115m, the Col du Tourmalet is one of the highest paved mountain passes in the Pyrenees, but Anne prepared with months of training, saying she “literally shoved (herself) out the door” to go cycling.
Anne has spent her life helping others, volunteering at children’s projects in places including India and Romania, and she has completed “rides all over the world”.
Last year, she raised £25,000 for Amos Trust’s emergency appeal for Gaza by cycling 20km up Mont Ventoux in France, battling hail, rain and fog during her climb to the summit, and she is already planning her next challenge for 2026 – although she does not know what this will be yet.
Speaking about her motivation for the climb on Wednesday, Anne told PA Real Life: “I’ve always been an activist of one kind or another.
“I have challenged the system that kicks people down and is mean-minded towards people who have nothing.
“I’ve always been a fighter for people’s rights, and I still think it matters.
“I think, as long as you’ve got health and you’ve got strength and you’ve got the ability to express yourself, it’s almost your social duty to get out there and do something about it.”
Anne explained that she has been a cycling “enthusiast” from a young age, but she did not fully embrace the sport until she reached her late 50s.
Her first major charity cycle was the London to Paris ride for the Big Issue in 2007, when she was 65, and she has since completed rides across the globe, including in Asia and the Atlas Mountains in Morocco.
Describing why she loves cycling, she said: “It’s just a wonderful thing to do.
“When you’re cycling along country lanes, you’ve got the hedgerows, the honeysuckle, the birdsong, the sunshine and, even when it’s raining, you know it’s going to come to an end.
“It’s just a wonderful, magical thing to do and, of course, when you do the charity rides, you’re usually with lovely people – and this is how I got drawn into Amos.”
Last May, Anne cycled 20km to the summit of Mont Ventoux to raise funds for the charity because she said she was “outraged” by the “horrific situation” in Gaza.
A year on, Amos Trust, which is supporting the Gaza Sunbirds para-cycling team, which provides community-led aid to Gaza, says the situation is even worse.
Feeling “angry”, Anne decided to sign up for another challenge this year – the Col du Tourmalet in the French Pyrenees.
“In my magical way, I thought the war would be over by the time we came off that mountain (last year),” Anne said.
“Not only was it not over, but it’s still going on – and that was just beyond shocking.
“This last Christmas just gone, somebody said to me, ‘Oh, are you doing Mont Ventoux again this year?’ And I just joked and said, ‘Oh, no, let’s do Tourmalet’.
“My friend who cycles with me, she took me seriously, and it grew from there.”
Despite dedicating months to training and even cutting herself off from friends and family to stay focused, Anne said she felt “more terrified” this time around to tackle the Col du Tourmalet.
However, seeing the ongoing news about the situation in Gaza has kept her motivated.
“As you chat to people, you know that everyone’s feeling terrible, beyond terrible, about what’s happening in Gaza,” Anne explained.
“I feel I’m doing it for all the people, ordinary people like me, who feel so strongly and yet they feel helpless.
“I still feel it really strongly. It’s important, it matters.”
On Wednesday, Anne and her team set off early at around 8.45am, cycling for around three hours in total to reach the summit at 2,115m in 30-degree temperatures.
They stopped at regular intervals along the way, with “sweets, smiles and encouragement” and hydration drinks.
“I really didn’t think I was going to do it, so I was going to be a miserable person for the day,” Anne said.
“Then it started getting really hot, and I was a bit worried, because I’m not good in the heat.
“But with stops and with our van back-up, putting cool flannels on my head and my neck, and plenty of rehydration drinks, somehow we made it.”
Unbeknown to Anne, there was a charity sportive made up of hundreds of riders at the top of the pass, who were having a party, and they gave Anne a massive cheer when she completed the ride.
Anne said completing the challenge made her feel very emotional and she “wanted to cry at the top”.
She and her team went out for pizza and ice cream afterwards, and she has been overwhelmed by the donations, with the total amount raised currently standing at £12,149.
Anne said she would encourage anyone of any age to push themselves out of their comfort zone, as she believes it is “mind over matter”.
“I’ve always thought, if you feel strongly, get out and do something about it,” she said.
While Anne now plans to take a break and enjoy some of her favourite pastimes, such as going to a music concert or an opera, she said she will continue her fundraising efforts for as long as she can.
“Like millions of ordinary people, I am outraged at the continuation of this barbaric war against Palestinians, and I weep inside for their suffering,” Anne said.
“This is my way of making a stand, showing solidarity and encouraging the Gaza Sunbirds para-cycling team, for whom I am fundraising and for whom I have the deepest respect.”
Chris Rose, director of Amos Trust, said: “Her ride is a reminder that solidarity isn’t about age, background or ability – it’s about heart.”
‘I’m a fighter for people’s rights’: London octogenarian completes 19km charity cycle up French mountain for aid to Gaza
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