A GROUP of local mums are going on a bike ride this month – all the way to Paris!
The four-day trip will be quite a challenge for the women, some of whom had never ridden a road bike before, let alone cycle with cleats (clip in shoes)!
But they have accepted the challenge from their friend Rachel Milne to pedal 285 miles from the door of St Peter’s Hospice in Brentry to the centre of the French capital.
Rachel is a physiotherapist at the hospice and has told them how provision of the free services at St Peter’s costs £27,000 a day. Many of the group have appreciated the care and love of the hospice for family members and friends and are inspired to raise as much as they can. They have prepared for their marathon effort, which begins on May 15, by takig spin classes and long weekend rides. To test their mettle, they also took part in the Tour de Bristol 100km challenge in April.
The group are feeling nervous and excited in equal measure but determined to get to the finish line in Paris.
One of the riders, Rachel Evans, said: “It felt crazy when Rachel (Milne) first mentioned it to us – I didn’t even own a road bike! Turns out you can teach an old Mum new tricks. It’s been fun going out training with the girls, and wonderful that all the money we raise goes to such a good cause”.
Molly O’Donoghue, events fundraising manager at St Peter’s Hospice, said: “We’re so excited for our team of over 55 fundraisers to take on our longest cycling challenge to date: a 400km ride over four days from our hospice in Brentry all the way to the beautiful city of Paris. We have such a brilliant team of people taking part and the money they’re raising will help so many patients and their families living in Bristol and the surrounding areas during the most difficult of times. Together, our teams have raised over £60,000 so far and we’d love to see this total rise even higher!”
To support Rachel and her gang, go to tinyurl.com/bdeyukvr