UPDATE July 2022

Unfortunately, the day before the epic London 2 Paris ride, I was taken unwell and was NOT able to complete the ride. On the same day Ross Clark was hit with Covid and was also unable to take part in the ride. To say we were both gutted, was an understatement. 

Whilst in hospital hooked up to a bunch of machines  - the day we were we all meant to be setting off to meet in London, I dropped Ross a message - we were both absolutely gutted to be missing out on the ride after months of training and fund raising, so we pledged to complete the challenge in the UK later in the year. We also knew Si had also needed to pull out due to a last minute work commitment, so after a quick exchange of messages we agreed the three of us would team up and get the ride done!

We ran the ride past Paul, who, not wanting to miss a good party, has committed to riding the full distance with us! The man has already done London 2 Paris, so this is his second long ride in a matter of months. The only downside is we now need to draw straws on who gets to share a room with him..

The Challenge (11th August - 13th August 2022): Ride totally unsupported from central London all the way to the Halton Haven. Taking place over 3 days with and a distance of 220 miles, we will be required to carry everything we need for the duration, unlike the Paris ride we wont have the support of mechanics etc. Riding with around an additional 20+kg each will make things a little harder for all of us.

We have tried to make the ride days match the original challenge where possible, with 80-95 mile ride days and plenty of hills. The final day of the ride is just 45 miles and starts just south of Stoke-on-Trent and ends back at the Halton Haven Hospice. 

We are hoping that those who rode to Paris and even those that didn't, will join us in Stoke on the Saturday morning (13th Aug) and ride the last 45 miles back to the Hospice as a team!

We - Myself, Ross, Si & Paul, are asking you once again to please support us by giving what you can to this amazing charity. 

Thank You!

Original: At the end of June 2022 I will be cycling from London all the way to Paris with a bunch of awesome people, led by a good family friend of mine, Paul O’Neill. The ride will take place over the course of 4 days and will require over 300 miles of saddle time. 

Due to the fact that I do not own a road bike and I think skinny tyres are weird, I will be tackling this monster ride on the mountain bike. I’ll have the wrong tyres, terrible gearing and I’ll be as aerodynamic as a brick - thus making it a tad harder! But I plan to let the road bikes do all the hard work and sit in their draft :)

We're raising money specifically for Halton Haven Hospice, a charity very close to Paul and many of the other riders' hearts. Hospice’s just like Halton Haven up and down the country rely on charitable donations to do the amazing work they do and support those on their final journey, their families and friends. 

Over the years two other Hospices just like Halton Haven have cared for both my Nan and my Grandfather's second wife, during their final months. If you have not been the recipient of the care given by one of our amazing Hospices, it would be easy to think that the care they give is often more for the person they are looking after, however, the work they do goes beyond this, they care for family and friends surrounding the person requiring care too. For us this was in the form of respite care, so my grandfather was able to rest and recover from his job as Carer as my Nan became more ill. During those often dark final weeks, I always recall my visits to the Hospice as both sad and happy events. It was the small things, like the nurses knowing my name when you arrived and always offering you a cuppa - knowing exactly how you took it after a while. This is without mentioning all the care they gave my Nan directly, the time they took and the love they gave to make her as comfortable as possible. 

Our Hospices and the people who work in them are amazing places that constantly need our support and whilst I am taking on this quietly frankly very difficult challenge for Halton Haven Hospice. I kind of feel like I am taking it on for all of the Hospices out there that do amazing work and need awareness raising of that!

I appreciate any donation big or small you are able to give and if you can’t give at this time, please consider supporting your local hospice in any way you can!