The Journey

On Thursday, 17th September, I am setting off on a 1,000-mile, pedal-power-only, bicycle journey from the Sir Alexander Fleming memorial in Barcelona, all the way back to St Mary’s Hospital in London, arriving on Friday, 9th October.

The Mission

I am taking on this physical challenge to raise vital funds for the Imperial Health Charity ICU Appeal. Their goal is to raise £200,000 to completely renovate the family consultation rooms, staff rest areas, and reception spaces at St Mary's Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Why This Unit Matters to Me

In January 2021, during the absolute peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, I joined the St Mary's Hospital Adult ICU. Entering the ward at such a difficult and devastating time, I worked with complete independence on the ground as an Assistant Psychologist. For one year, I served in this role entirely alone on the ward, providing dedicated emotional support to critically ill patients, their relatives, and the staff. The impact of this frontline work was recognised by my peers, who nominated me for a 'Making a Difference' award.

St Mary’s Adult ICU is one of London’s busiest major trauma centres. It cares for some of the most seriously ill and injured people, from London and from further afield. People often travel many miles to be with their loved ones during a time of intense trauma. After spending desperate, exhausting hours waiting for life-or-death news, it is in these rooms that they will hear it. It is extremely important they have a comfortable, calming, and safe space. I know, because I was in these rooms - with families - every day.

My Story: from Principle to Action

Navigating this path on the ground meant pushing through the rigid boundaries of traditional medical hierarchy, where junior initiatives are often met with initial institutional scepticism. It was only as the value of this direct ICU support became clear that organisational resistance shifted into active advocacy, paving the way for what would eventually become an entirely new framework for the unit.

When the pandemic ended, the crisis built clinical roles that had been essential to provide a rapid response naturally gave way to the re-emerging structured systems. In early 2024, I stepped out of that environment, not as an intended withdrawal, but as a recognition of a universal systemic challenge: that the flexibility and innovation required in crisis could not be sustained within traditional institutional boundaries.

This 1,000 mile independent ride across Europe is shaped by that understanding. It is a commitment to turning a difficult transition into something constructive: transforming experience into insight, and insight into action.

I am sharing this perspective publicly, not as a personal narrative, but as an example of resilience, adaptive leadership, and how crisis driven innovation can inform future preparedness. The aim is straightforward: to turn one individual’s experience into something that can help organisations think differently about people, systems, and recovery.

What happened before will not be how this story ends.

I found building and running that clinical role from the ground up during the peak of the pandemic to be an incredibly tough, demanding experience. This 1,000-mile independent bicycle ride across Europe is my way of honouring that journey, turning past endurance into a tangible effort to support the unit.

I am not looking for personal visibility or public attention. However, I accept that sharing my story is the only way to generate the widespread awareness needed to support the unit.

How You Can Help

Every single penny raised on this page goes directly and securely to the Imperial Health Charity ICU Appeal, to fund the physical infrastructure the unit desperately needs:

• Two Refurbished Family Rooms: Featuring air conditioning and comfortable furnishings, including facilities that allow family members to rest and sleep during desperate hours.

• An Enhanced Reception Area: With new seating and artwork, creating a welcoming and positive first impression to ease those entering a time of intense trauma.

• A Comfortable On-Call Room: Allowing staff working round-the-clock, demanding shifts to rest so that they can continue to deliver outstanding care.

• A Functioning MDT Room: Allowing clinical staff to come together in a dedicated space to review and discuss the best possible care plans for each patient.

Please consider donating to help hit the £200,000 target. Your support will directly impact and bring comfort to the lives of patients, relatives, and the teams who work at St Mary’s ICU.

Thank you for your support.