In 2006 my wife, Sandra and I were planning to fly out to Lhasa Tibet, acclimatise and then cycle back over the Himalaya to Kathmandu, via North Everest Base Camp. A journey of 1000kms and 5 of the worlds highest mountain passes!

 
It seems nothing could stop us, we were fit, experienced cyclists with a totally positive mental attitude. The trip for the two of us was not to be.

Early in 2006 Sandra was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer, she rallied for 6 months with the aid of radiotherapy, but the second round of radiotherapy was ineffective and despite her resolve and a sense of humour that would put us all to shame, Sandra died on the 13th December 2006.

 ST LUKES HOSPICE CHARITY CYCLE RIDE
The distance around the edges of  Ireland is about 1500 miles with all the outrageous wet and windy weather that the Atlantic can throw at us!

My good friend Phil Arnold and I intend starting in the west in Tralee, work our way north through Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Donegal to Derry.The Antrim coast road takes us onto Belfast, then the Ards Peninsula and through the mountains of mourn to Newry. The route goes through Co. Louth and Drogheda to the archaeological sites of the Boyne Valley and onto Dublin. From here we head down to Wicklow, Carlow, and into Kilkenny.  After South Tipperary we work our way through Cork to Kerry, where we will negotiate the ring of Kerry, the Dingle Peninsula and back to Tralee.

 
We have chosen a route of essentially back roads, which are great from a safety point of view, but from bitter experience there will be a series of steep ups and downs. We will endeavour to average 80 miles a day which should see us completing the ride in 20 days allowing for inevitable wrong turnings, puntures and breakdowns.

 
In my view I cannot praise St Lukes enough, they exceeded all expectations of both Sandra and myself and it was both her and my intention to bully, beg and cajole all the people we know for money to support St Luke’­s by sponsoring this ride!

This trip will be completely self funded and self supported by Phil and myself  - every penny raised will go directly to St Luke’s.

 
Please dig deep and encourage others to do the same! Thanks

Chris Hadley and Phil Arnold

UPDATE!!!

Chris and Phil and both expecting to finish this amazing challenge TONIGHT!! Both  are doing really well and have suffered no injuries!!!

On behalf of Chris and Phil, They would like to thank everyone for all their help and support they have shown throughout this great challenge!!!

We look forward to welcoming the guys back home safely very soon x x