Why I’m Cycling from London to Paris

Hi there! I’m Tanio, and this July, I’ll be taking on an exciting (and slightly daunting!) challenge: cycling all the way from London to Paris! That’s right—over 300 miles of peddling, determination, and probably quite few energy bars to keep me going.

But this isn’t just about the adventure (though I am super excited about that!). It’s about doing something meaningful for children and babies who are facing some of life’s toughest battles.

The Cause: Action Medical Research

I’m proud to be raising funds for Action Medical Research, a UK charity that’s working tirelessly to help sick and disabled babies and children. Their vital research has led to life-changing breakthroughs, including treatments for premature birth, epilepsy, and childhood cancer. Every penny raised goes towards giving these children a brighter, healthier future.

How I’m Preparing

Taking on a challenge like this requires more than just enthusiasm—it’s going to take serious preparation! Thankfully, I’m not doing it alone. I’m working with a coach who’s helping me get ready for this epic journey.

Here’s my training plan:

*Starting at the gym: I’m focusing on building strength and endurance, and at the end of April, I’ll be putting my fitness to the test by competing in a Hyrox event.

*Hitting the bike: After that, I’ll transition to cycling training, building up my mileage and preparing for the long days on the road.

*Looking ahead: This ride is just the start! After completing London to Paris, my ultimate goal is to cycle across Italy, from the north to the south. It’s a dream I’ve had for a long time, and this challenge is the perfect stepping stone.

I’ll be sharing updates along the way—both the highs and the inevitable struggles—so you can follow my journey and see the progress in real time.

Why This Matters to Me

I’ve always admired people who take on challenges for a good cause, and this year, I decided it was time to push myself out of my comfort zone. Cycling from London to Paris feels like the perfect way to do that while making a real difference.

Knowing that my efforts (and your support!) could help a baby take their first steps, give a child their first smile, or even save a life, makes every mile worth it.

How You Can Help

By donating to my page, you’ll be joining me on this journey to support Action Medical Research. Every contribution, big or small, brings us closer to new medical breakthroughs and better care for children. Together, we can help fund the answers they desperately need.

£10 can fund essential laboratory items such as cell culture dishes used in research to develop a new treatment approach to prevent preterm birth.

£20 can fund an hour of a clinical trial researcher’s time to help improve surgery and walking for children with cerebral palsy.

£50 can fund a week’s worth of testing agents to help develop a cutting-edge gene therapy for severe childhood epilepsy.

£60 can fund one MRI scan to research how to treat children with sickle cell anaemia.

£150 can fund a researcher for a day on a potentially life-saving project.

£300 can fund a pioneering research project for a day.

Children like Sophia who has spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA 1), a rare disease that causes progressive muscle weakness and movement problems. There is no cure, and children can die at a young age. A new treatment has stopped the progression of this cruel disease for now, but the future remains uncertain.

By hitting your fundraising target, together we can fund more desperately needed research to tackle the diseases that devastate the lives of so many of our children.

Follow My Journey

I’ll be sharing updates, photos, and (hopefully) some entertaining stories from my training and the ride itself. Keep an eye on this page or my social media to see how it’s going—especially if you want a laugh at my attempts to conquer the hills!

Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my page and support this incredible cause. Together, we can make a difference!