Liverpool cycling trio take on mammoth London to Paris charity bike ride

Caroline, Colette and John

Three novice cyclists from Liverpool are embarking on the biggest challenge of their lives to raise money for charity.

Would-be Lance Armstrongs Caroline Henderson, Colette Glover and John Glover are cycling more than 300 miles from London to Paris to raise £3900 for causes close to their hearts.

The trio, who only cycled for pleasure before signing up for the mammoth journey, set off from Blackheath in London on Wednesday 8th September and are due to arrive at the Eiffel Tower in Paris on Saturday 12th September.

The route, approximately 310 miles, will take them across France via Calais, Abbeville and Beauvais cycling between 70-95 miles per day.

Caroline, 52, is in the saddle for cancer charity Myeloma UK, after losing husband Ged to the disease in April last year, aged 58.

The mum-of-two from Aigburth said: "This bike ride isn't just about raising money but also awareness of this little known disease. Multiple Myeloma only affects 1-4 people in every 100,000.

"And of course it's about helping Ged's memory live on. Ged was a loving family man and an amazing teacher who demonstrated an amazing attitude to his health problems. Instead of self pity asking ‘Why me’?, his attitude was ‘Why not me?' which is why I'll be riding with that message on my t-shirt."

Ged's sister Colette, 54, and husband John, 57, are sharing their fundraising between Amnesty International and Breakthrough Breast Cancer having been inspired by close family friend Sara Leslie, who died in January this year.

John, an advisor for Citizen's Advice Bureau, said: "Sara was so brave and had so much courage. Her attitude was always to “never give in” and she was such a positive example to all who knew her.

"She was passionate in her political beliefs and ideals, and was committed to her work as a prominent employment solicitor in her human rights work which is why we've chosen to raise money for Amnesty International."

Nurse Colette, from Mossley Hill, added: "I'm terrified but I know that we're doing this for three truly worthwhile causes. We've been bike riding every weekend to prepare but I think the other two will have to break each day into blocks of 30 miles or so to keep me going!"

For more information or to sponsor the team, visit www.sara-ged.org.uk.

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