Getting ready to ride from London to Paris for Katharine House
07/07/2025
“I did have all the gear and no idea, but now I’m getting a bit more of the idea as well”
A group of 45 people who range from seasoned cyclists to part-time peddlers are getting ready for the challenge of their lives as they prepare to ride from London to Paris, raising funds for the Katharine House Hospice.
On Friday evening the group met up at the Banbury headquarters of headline sponsor Silbury for a barbecue and to receive their kit for the ride.
When the Hospice first launched the challenge they had expected around 10 people to sign up. “Then we got to 20 and then we hit 40,” said Carley Lambourne from Katharine House. “That’s how I’m doing it because if we had an extra five and a member of staff did it, they would allow an extra five people on the ride.
“I am really looking forward to it now. I’m converted. I think I am a cyclist now! I did the 100km [Broughton Castle] Sportive and survived it.”
Carley had to go out and purchase a bike for the challenge and now is training three times a week. A group of ladies from the Wychwoods who are leisure cyclists together have also signed-up, along with others who range from enthusiastic to hardened cyclists.
Over three days in September they will cycle from Tower Bridge in London to the coast and after a ferry crossing through the small villages and medieval market towns of Northern France before arriving at the finishing point, the Eiffel Tower.
“You definitely can’t just turn up on the day and just do it,” said Carley. “You definitely need to put in the training. I did have all the gear and no idea, but now I’m getting a bit more of the idea as well.”
So far the event has raised an amazing £76,000, but Carley hopes the final total might even challenge the amount generated by the annual Tractor Run, with Jennie Steenkamp (who created the Tractor Run) one of those taking part in the London to Paris Cycle Challenge.
“I think I’ve made some lifelong friends,” said Carley. “It’s such a lovely, lovely group and everybody is great. I think we’re going to have an amazing time.”
Each of the cyclists has their own fund raising page, or a group donation can be made here, quoting reference “L2P”.
You can listen to our full interview with Carley Lambourne here:
Published: by the Banbury FM News Team
Reader's opinions
