Alder Hey Children’s Charity to take part in epic cycle challenge from London to Amsterdam

Ninety-seven riders, representing six of the UK’s largest children’s hospital charities, are gearing up for an extraordinary challenge: cycling from London to Amsterdam with the goal of raising over £160,000.

At the heart of this effort is Alder Hey Children’s Charity, joined by Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity (GOSH Charity), Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, The Grand Appeal – the Bristol Children’s Hospital Charity, Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, and Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.

All six previously got together in 2022 to cycle from London to Paris, smashing their initial target by raising £160,000 for their hospitals, a target they are hoping to better this challenge.

Children’s Hospital charities play a vital role in helping to provide life-changing treatments in the NHS for children and young people across the UK. The money raised helps fund specialist medical equipment, ensuring surgeons and clinical staff have the most up to date equipment and technology available to them, often equipment that is not available via the NHS.

Funding also ensures a range of activities and projects designed to enhance and improve the lives of children and young people, including hi-tech distraction equipment proven to reduce pain and vital research to help find cures and better treatments for children and young people. 

The previous adventure took the teams from London to Paris cycling from Croydon through Kent and into France. Fundraisers from each organisation spent four days in the saddle, cycling over 300 miles from one capital to another. Despite the many challenges along the way, including heat exhaustion, saddle sores, falls and even a cracked rib, all 65 cyclists who started the 300-mile challenge completed it.

The 2024 challenge is pushing the cyclists even further with the challenge starting in London and passing through four countries to a final destination 335 miles away in Amsterdam. 

The teams set off on the 5th June and supporters, family and friends can follow their team across their websites and social media channels.

Fiona Ashcroft, Chief Executive, Alder Hey Children’s Charity said:

“The 2022 challenge was a fantastic achievement from everyone who took part, but the bar has most definitely been raised this year! 330 miles, four countries, four days…we are astounded by the courage shown by each and every rider!”

Matron, Sarah Britton, from Bristol Children’s Hospital is taking part in the challenge on behalf of The Grand Appeal, and despite a busy schedule has been managing to get some training done. She said: “When we signed up last year, we were all looking for a new challenge. Plus, Amsterdam is flat, so it seemed like a good idea! My team all work closely with The Grand Appeal, so supporting the charity felt like a natural choice!” 

14-year-old Layton Cawthorn from Retford is taking on the challenge for The Children’s Hospital Charity, Sheffield, to raise money in memory of his best friend, Daisy.

Layton said:

“Daisy is always in my heart, and I would love to know that she is on this journey with me. I hope to have her flower on my bike and kit for the challenge to give me the strength and fight she always had and always will.”

Layton is training at home. He is the youngest cyclist taking part and the only child from all the charities completing the ride.

All the teams will be posting updates and stories on the individual websites and social media channels. See video here.

For more on Alder Hey Children’s Charity click here.

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