A family cycling team have completed a 300 mile cycle challenge, riding from London to Paris to raise £12,000 in aid of St Richard’s Hospice.
The team decided to take on the epic challenge to raise money for St Richard’s Hospice in memory of Malcolm Smith who was cared for by the hospice before his death last year. Dan Smith, Malcolm’s son, was joined by Fraser Parramint, his son-in-law, and close family friends Nick, Mike and Jon Hawkes.
Their four day adventure began on Wednesday 22nd July at Selsdon Park, South London, from where the team pedalled through the picturesque Kent countryside to Dover, before crossing the Channel to Calais. The five riders joined around 190 other charity cyclists on the iconic and poignant route through traditional French market towns with amazing views of the rolling, green fields of Northern France, passing the war memorials and cemeteries of the Somme. The riders then experienced the thrill of the final leg up the Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe, following in the tyre tracks of Tour de France cycling greats where they were finally greeted by their family and loved ones who were there to support them.
Dan Smith said; “If a man could be measured by the weight of love and friendship that surrounded him, then Dad was a remarkable and wonderful man. He was a true family man, a lover of life alongside our equally wonderful Mum. Dad led a long and distinguished career in the property industry as a Chartered Building Surveyor with many of his colleagues and friends remembering him as one of life’s true gentlemen. Dad’s motto was always to ‘live life’ and so we have taken on this challenge with the same attitude in his honour, to embrace opportunities and experiences like this……to live life”.
The team decided to raise money for St Richard’s Hospice after the fantastic support and care it provided to Malcolm and his family at his home throughout the illness. Malcolm’s family said; “St Richard’s Hospice were nothing short of angels through such an overwhelming time”.
Nick Hawkes added; “St Richard’s is an amazing hospice which provide excellent care at a very difficult and challenging time. Their people are engaging and genuine and we feel very proud to represent them at this event! Illnesses such as cancer can affect anyone at some point in their lives and it is comforting to know that charities such as St Richard’s are available. However they rely on charitable donations to continue to provide the dedication and skills needed to support patients and their families.”
To donate to the team’s fund, visit www.justgiving.com/Nick-Hawkes1/