Eighty intrepid cyclists – including Bristol medics, managing directors and even a Wonder Woman – bid ‘bon voyage’ to family and friends today as they set off on the Bristol-to-Paris Cycle Challenge for local hospital charity Above & Beyond.
In just four days, the cyclists will pedal 430km to reach the French capital in an effort to raise £150,000 for the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.
The funds will provide new, state-of-the-art ultrasound technology which produces 3D images of a child’s heart so complex operations can be carried out with even greater precision.
More than 350 children in Bristol and the South West who require lifesaving surgery at the hospital every year.
Mayor George Ferguson was at the start line at Clifton Suspension Bridge to wave off the riders. Pedaling through the city, they then gained an all-important power-boost from a French-themed cheering station filled with family and friends outside Bristol Royal Infirmary.
The cyclists’ first pit stop will be Salisbury later today before they pedal their way to Portsmouth and onwards to Paris, where they will arrive triumphant at the iconic Eiffel Tower.
Above & Beyond head of corporate partnerships Lorna Clarke said: “We’re absolutely overwhelmed by the commitment and support of everyone taking part in this year’s Bristol to Paris Cycle Challenge.
“It’s incredibly inspiring to see so many people unite in a common cause and take on this remarkable challenge for their hospitals.
“We’re extremely grateful to all our cyclists who have been training and fundraising so hard over the last eight months. Their support really will give local children with complex heart conditions a greater chance of enjoying a normal and active childhood.”
One cyclist riding for the cause is Andrew Venn, father of 12-year-old Joe who was diagnosed with a congenital heart condition at birth, had his first shunt fitted aged just 72 hours, his first heart by-pass at four and will receive ongoing treatment throughout his life.
Andrew was inspired by last year’s event and was one of the first to sign up to the challenge along with Joe’s consultant Dr Andrew Tometzki, lead consultant in paediatric cardiology at Bristol Children’s Hospital.
Andrew Venn said: “Eight months of your life – training, fundraising and taking part in the Bristol to Paris Cycle Challenge – will give a number of children their whole lives back.”
Each day a different cyclist will be blogging about their experience on the Above & Beyond website www.aboveandbeyond.org.uk. Their incredible journey can also be followed on social media via Twitter @aboveandbeyond1 using #Bristol2Paris and Facebook Bristol2pariscyclechallenge.
