Nineteen amateur cyclists raised more than £240,000 [3] for the Cure Leukaemia charity during a virtual recreation of the Tour de France Femmes.
The initiative highlights the intersection of virtual athletics and philanthropic efforts to support children battling leukaemia. By leveraging global digital platforms, the riders brought visibility to a critical health cause while mirroring one of the most grueling events in professional cycling.
Featured in a three-part NBC Sports docuseries titled "Riding For Survival," the group tackled all nine [2] stages of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes [1]. The participants utilized Zwift's virtual platform to simulate the French terrain, completing each stage exactly one day ahead of the professional peloton [1].
The project combined physical endurance with a fundraising mission. The riders aimed to secure vital funds for Cure Leukaemia, an organization dedicated to improving survival rates, and treatment for children with the disease [1].
While the professional athletes competed on the roads of France, the 19 [1] amateurs faced the same elevation and distance digitally. This approach allowed the participants to engage with a wider audience and donor base through the visibility provided by the docuseries and the virtual cycling community.
The series concludes by documenting the final push to meet their financial goals. The resulting contribution of more than £240,000 [3] provides significant resources for the charity's ongoing medical research, and patient support services.
“Nineteen amateur cyclists raised more than £240,000 for the Cure Leukaemia charity.”
This event demonstrates the growing capability of virtual sports platforms to facilitate large-scale charitable fundraising. By synchronizing a virtual event with a high-profile professional race like the Tour de France Femmes, the organizers created a narrative hook that translated digital effort into tangible financial support for pediatric cancer research.
