16th February 2017 Church News.
Well following on from last year’s London 2 Brighton charity bike ride, I have agreed to take part in the London to Paris bike ride this year as promised in my last blog.
The Team
Myself and David Hoskings (our last-minute sub from the London to Brighton ride from last year) We wanted to take up the challenge for the three-day cycle ride covering the 308 miles to Paris.
The Charity?
We are raising funds for (The Friends of Wisdom Trust).
The Friends of The Wisdom Hospice
The Friends of The Wisdom Hospice supports the work of the only adult hospice serving Medway and Swale in Kent. It makes an annual grant to Medway Community Healthcare of £600,000 towards hospice running costs. In addition, it provides extra equipment and facilities that fall outside the MCH budget.
It’s a big jump up in challenge? People ask me why!
What really motivated me to ride to Paris this year was receiving the sad news of Carole Hoskings, the Mum of one of my best friends, passing away last year. What was evident to me was that The Wisdom Trust Hospice looks further than the patient care and in the darkest time they help the family collectively. So, myself and Dave thought why not, it is scary but let’s give it a bash it’s for a great cause!
A bit about the ride!
The London to Paris Bike Ride I think is an awesome cycling challenge and is by far one of the best fundraising events in Europe attracting hundreds of riders each year and raising thousands for charities nationwide. I will be spending 3 days in the saddle, cycling 308 miles from Capital to Capital. Our journey begins in London with the route taking us through glorious English countryside as we cycle from Kent to Dover, before crossing the Channel to Calais. Once across the water I will start cycling ‘French style’, remembering to keep to the right! and push on cycling along quiet French country lanes, through traditional market towns with views of the rolling green hills of Northern France, passing the war memorials and cemeteries of the Somme. I hope the weathers OK but I can’t wait to see France from a completely different perspective. Especially as we finish the last leg at the home stretch up the Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe, before reaching the piece de resistance, the Eiffel Tower, which marks our finish line. We finish a day before the tour de France so the days in the saddle may be long but the sense of achievement we will feel crossing the finish line and the euphoric atmosphere as we celebrate our achievements in this magnificent capital, the saddle soreness soon wears off!
Training starts now!
As Well as riding 100 miles a week! I have signed up to four long organized training rides covering between 80-100 miles. It’s a far cry from riding the 56 miles to Brighton. Training has been cold and I can’t wait to finally have some warmth again. So, watch this space for my next update in march as I’m attempting to cycle 83 miles in the South downs ride.
All the kit so no excuses!
Really pleased that we have designed our official Church International kit
