Thank you for taking the time to visit ourJustGiving page. I’m fundraising for St Catherine’s Hospice in Crawley; a local charity with a big ambition – to make sure nobody faces death and loss alone. The hospice relies on donations to offer pioneering end of life care and support to people in Sussex and East Surrey. Any donation you can give will mean a lot to me and make a direct difference to families facing terminal illness. St Catherine’s has never needed our support more. Together, let’s make sure the hospice can continue to provide vital support to the community.

The Challenge

Last September, Graham Knight successfully completed a walk of more than 1000 kilometres across southwestern France and northern Spain along the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route, raising funds for Cancer Research. Now, along with some friends, he is embarking on another challenge: cycling to Rome along the ancient Via Francigena route from Canterbury. The journey stretches over 2,000 kilometres through France, Switzerland, and Italy. The aim is to raise much needed funds for St. Catherine’s Hospice in Pease Pottage, West Sussex. This is not just about the distance covered; it is also about raising awareness for a cause of significant importance—to provide dignity and comfort at the end of a life.

The Cause

This is personal. Cancer has touched the lives of so many friends and members of my family. I remember with gratitude the care my father received at the end of his life, so I’m fundraising for St Catherine’s Hospice in Crawley; a local charity with a big ambition – to make sure nobody faces death and loss alone. The hospice relies on donations to offer pioneering end of life care and support to people in Sussex and East Surrey. Any donation you can give will mean a lot and make a direct difference to families facing terminal illness. St Catherine’s has never needed our support more. Together, let’s make sure the hospice can continue to provide vital care and assistance to individuals with life-limiting illnesses. The funds raised will help ensure the hospice can continue its work, offering care to patients and their families during challenging times. In 2024, St. Katherine’s opened a new hospice in Pease Pottage, Crawley, but due to a lack of funds it can only operate one wing. Seventy percent of St. Catherine’s operating costs are covered by donations.

The Route

The ride begins at St. Catherine’s Hospice in Pease Pottage on 11 May. The initial leg of the journey will take the group through their hometown of Horley and onto the old Pilgrim’s Way, making its way through the Kent countryside to Canterbury Cathedral, the starting point of the historical Via Francigena route, then on for the short ride to Dover.

After crossing the Channel, the ride progresses from Calais across northern France, traversing the historic city of Reims, capital of the Champagne region, to Besancon. From there, the journey extends through the Jura mountains to the northern shore of Lake Geneva. The most challenging segment includes a 50 kilometre climb up to the Great St Bernard Pass, followed by passage through Lombardy, Tuscany, and the Adriatic coast, culminating in the historic streets of Rome.

Preparation

Training and logistics planning has already begun. Such a demanding ride requires months of preparation. Graham has little experience of long-distance cycling, and until now he was more comfortable walking or occasionally mountain-biking, so he’s been diligently working on building stamina, strength, and endurance. Fortunately, his fellow-riders are far more accustomed to road-riding. From long weekend rides to daily workouts, every effort is directed towards ensuring we are ready to take on this challenge.

How You Can Help

We invite you to join us in this challenge. Whether by donating, spreading the word, or even joining us for a segment of the ride, your support can make a significant difference. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us closer to our goal and helps St. Catherine’s Hospice in its mission. Contributions can be made through this justgiving.com page, through our website or directly to St. Catherine's.

Finally…

As we pedal our way to Rome, we carry with us the hopes and dreams of those we aim to support and in memory of those we’ve lost to cancer. We hope this journey will be a testament to the power of community and the impact we can make when we come together for a greater good. We hope you’ll follow our progress on these pages and social media.

Thank you for being part of this challenge. Together, we will make a difference, one mile at a time.