The Challenge:

To get Charlie, Harry & Wayne from Painswick to Paris, off the beaten track, on their bikes, in just 4 days. They’re taking on the challenge in memory of Charlie’s dear Mum and Harry’s beloved mother-in-law Susan, who we lost late last year to pancreatic cancer. The boys are hoping to raise money, support and awareness for the amazing charity that is Pancreatic Cancer UK. 

Riding a gravel route they will cover a staggering 600km from Painswick to Paris, with elevations of just over 4000m. Travelling from village to village across Southern England and Northern France they’ll take in some stunning scenery en route. From the Cotswold countryside to the centre of London, along the beaches of Northern France and the site of The Battle of the Somme, they’ll see it all.

Dusting off their bikes during lockdown has inspired the boys to take to their pedals and crank up the gears. Only recently, some of them struggled to get up Painswick Beacon on two wheels! They’ll be cycling on gravel bikes which combine the speed of a road bike with the rugged off-road capabilities of a mountain bike. The adventure will take them on rough trails, logging tracks, canal paths, bridleways and fields, testing them to the limit.

Support vehicle I hear you say? This is a challenge, not a jolly. Taking only the clothes on their back and a few supplies (cue the chamois cream) the boys will be travelling solo, only to get their heads down in B&Bs along the way.

The Charity

Research into pancreatic cancer has been underfunded for decades – it only receives 3% of the UK cancer research budget. This is three times less than research spend on breast cancer.

Unfortunately, five year survival for all pancreatic cancers in the UK is 7%. The survival statistics are so low because pancreatic cancer is so hard to diagnose. Many people are diagnosed late, when the cancer has spread and surgery to remove the cancer is simply not possible. 

By sponsoring Charlie, Harry and Wayne, you’ll be helping them raise vital funds for Pancreatic Cancer UK. Every pound you give will make sure the charity can further invest in ground-breaking research that could change the lives of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

The challenge will certainly be memorable, just as Susan was.