Environmental Justice Foundation's Great Fashion Cycle

Guest Contributor, Melina Environmental Justice Foundation  

Living ethically, burning fat and looking vogue can seem like an impossible set of resolutions to keep this year, but thanks to the Environmental Justice Foundation's Great Fashion Cycle, they can all be rolled into one easy ride.

Every summer since 2009, EJF has waved goodbye to a team of riders who have set off on the road from London to Paris armed with jelly beans in glitzy outfits (to hide their padded shorts) to promote a fairer fashion industry. 

Will you join us on a ride of a lifetime?

The charity bike ride challenge takes place again in 2012 and this year we are offering two dates for supporters to pick from. Linking Europe's top two fashion cities - London and Paris on the 11th-15th of July & 5th – 9th September 2012, the cycle is in aid of the world's unseen fashion victims; cotton farmers and the millions of children who are forced to labour in the fields.

The ride is approximately 300 miles over four days with a rest day on the Sunday in Paris to recover and celebrate. All your meals, accommodation, any medical or mechanical support are provided by a friendly team of event organisers who look after every step of the way so you don’t have to worry about anything except taking in the beautiful scenery and focusing on where your next energy bar is coming from!

The ride itself is full of all abilities and ages, you can make your own pace so with some training everyone is able to join. For more information for a day by day itinerary please see http://www.ejfoundation.org/page544.html and other FAQ http://www.ejfoundation.org/page546.html.

The aim of the Great Fashion Cycle is to raise awareness and essential funds for the Environmental Justice Foundation’s environmental and human rights work. The focus is on the Pick Your Cotton Carefully campaign, which is focused on ending the use of forced child labour and harmful pesticide use in the cotton industry.

Whether it is state enforced, or child trafficking, millions of children around the world face severe exploitation in cotton production. Cotton should be improving lives, but this ‘white gold’ is often bringing misery to millions because of the use poisonous chemical pesticides, child labour, environmental destruction and water mis- management

EJF works to put the issues under the spotlight through award winning films, reports and successful collaborations and industry engagement leading to major policy changes with some of the world’s biggest buyers of cotton in a bid to protect those working in the fields. 

The cotton industry can be different.

Cotton could be sustainable, and cotton farmers could earn a decent wage. But for this to happen we need change. Whatever your level of cycling, whether you have a passion for fashion or want to help us make a difference sign up and join us giving a voice to the behind the scenes of the industry and making cotton a crop that builds lives not destroys them.

Photos, film and interviews from past riders available on request 2012 Dates: 

11th - 15th of July & 5th – 9th of September 2012

Cost: £99 registration fee and minimum sponsorship of £1,400.

Includes: 3* hotel accommodation, the ferry from Dover to Calais, the Eurostar back home, mechanical bag carrying support, medical care, and most of your meals (check website for further details).

Search “GREAT FASHION CYCLE”, visit www.ejfoundation.org/londontoparis , find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ejfoundation or follow us at Twitter @ejfoundation @EJFChallenges.