ED'S "OUT OF HIS DEPTH" CHARITY BIKE CHALLENGE

On 24-26 September 2026, I'll be cycling 575 miles from Arras to Stuttgart to raise money for Sophie's Legacy.

Now, before anyone starts imagining I'm some kind of seasoned endurance cyclist, I should clear something up: I'm not.

In fact, agreeing to ride 575 miles across France, Luxembourg and Germany may well rank among the poorest decisions I've made this year. There is still time for regret. Unfortunately, there isn't time to back out.

I'd be hugely grateful if you could sponsor me and help make all the inevitable suffering worthwhile.

Why Sophie's Legacy?

Sophie Fairall was just ten years old when she died of rhabdomyosarcoma in September 2021.

Before she passed away, Sophie wrote a bucket list. Not of things she wanted for herself, but of things she wanted improved for children and families facing cancer in the future.

She wanted:

Better hospital food

Play specialists available seven days a week

Meals for parents staying on wards with their children

Better awareness and training to help identify childhood cancer sooner

In 2022, Sophie's mum Charlotte founded Sophie's Legacy to turn those wishes into reality.

Today, the charity supports families across 12 hospitals and 40 wards along the South Coast through practical help such as food, toiletries, transport support, emergency clothing and birthday celebrations on wards. At the same time, they continue to campaign nationally for the changes Sophie asked for, including securing Parliament's first ever debate on childhood cancer.

It's an incredible charity doing genuinely life-changing work.

The Challenge

A team of four of us will ride as a relay across three days:

Day 1: Arras (France) to Arlon (Luxembourg)

214 miles through the Ardennes

Day 2: Arlon to Mainz (Germany)

177 miles over the Hunsrück mountains

Day 3: Mainz to Stuttgart via Heidelberg

170 miles

There is no magic support vehicle doing the hard work for us.

We manage our own pacing, our own nutrition, our own navigation and, most importantly, our own suffering.

If everything goes according to plan, we'll roll into Stuttgart on Saturday evening.

If it doesn't, I'll probably be found somewhere halfway up a hill questioning every life choice that brought me there.

Where Your Money Goes

Every penny donated goes directly to Sophie's Legacy.

The team is covering our own travel, accommodation and entry costs, so your donation supports the charity and the families they help, not the challenge itself.

The Ask

Whether it's £5, £10, £25 or more, every donation makes a difference.

£10 gets me over a hill.

£25 gets me through an afternoon in the Ardennes.

£50 might even stop me complaining about the mountains.

More importantly, your donation helps families facing situations far tougher than a few tired cyclists on a long road.

Thank you for supporting such a brilliant cause. ❤️🚴‍♂️