Four life-long friends have completed 309 miles cycling from London to Paris raising an incredible £21,000 for Strathcarron Hospice in memory of loved ones.

Lorna Muirhead, Jamie McWilliam and siblings Elaine Blackwood and Paul Valentine joined more than 100 cyclists on the European challenge. The friends are now encouraging others to take on their own fundraiser for Strathcarron to give something back and help people in need in their local community.

The event, which was hosted by Global Adventures Challenge, saw the cyclists spend four days in the saddle, setting off from London, before crossing the Channel to Calais.

Once in France they cycled through the French countryside, through traditional market towns with views of the rolling green hills of Northern France, passing the war memorials and cemeteries of the Somme.

Lorna and Elaine were inspired to take on the challenge to mark their 50^th birthdays after completing the Sahara Desert Trek together for Strathcarron in November 2023 in memory of loved ones.

Lorna was moved to fundraise for the Hospice after her dad Hamish Mullen, died in Strathcarron from a brain tumour in 2008 aged just 61. Elaine and Paul’s dad Terry Valentine had also spent time in the hospice before he died in 2012, after being diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Elaine, who works as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner for the Whins Medical Practice in Alloa and NHS Forth Valley, said: “The care the Strathcarron staff provided for our dad was exceptional. I felt I needed to give something back.  I absolutely loved the Sahara Trek experience so decided to try something a bit different, and managed to coerce Jamie and Paul into joining me and Lorna in this one!

“The cycle from London to Paris was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but it was worth it. I loved the trip! There were lots of laughs along the way. We met some wonderful new friends and made memories for life.

“I got to spend time with best friends and my brother, making memories to last a lifetime, and we managed to raise an overwhelming amount of money for the Hospice all thanks to the generosity of so many people, family, friends and businesses.

“We will always be thankful for the care dad received during his several admissions to the Hospice.  He was initially very reluctant to be admitted, but within hours, you could see a weight had been lifted from him and he felt safe. That was all we could have hoped for during that time and we will be eternally grateful. “

A PRECIOUS TIME 

Lorna, who lives just outside of Denny, said: “My mum Doreen and my daughter Ailie work at the Hospice, so it’s a nice thought knowing I've contributed to supporting the work they do.

“The care and support my dad and our family received in the Hospice in his final days was second to none. It was a very precious time.  My dad was quite adventurous and I know the challenges we have taken on so far would be something he would have done when he was younger.

“Choosing a physical challenge was good from a fitness point of view at this stage in our lives and we wanted to build on the fund raising we had done previously. I really enjoyed the trip – there were daily challenges to overcome! Be it getting through London the day before the challenge had even started with our heavy bags and bikes, going several miles off course on day one, wind, rain, hills, falls from bikes and punctures – but we kept on smiling!”

Paul, an electrical engineer with Scottish Power who lives in Kilsyth, said: “I loved the trip, even though the rain was biblical at times! The people we met, the bond we made as group, the laughs, and sense of achievement is something I will keep with me forever.

“It was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I actually couldn't cycle more than three miles on our first night of training, so getting to cycle over 80 miles per day has made me so proud of all of us.

“A huge thanks must go to Deborah Valentine for all the hard work in helping organising all the fundraising events we did, she came up with all the fundraising ideas and sold tickets etc while we just cycled! She collected a huge amount!”

POIGNANT 

Jamie, who lives in Dunblane and works alongside Paul for Scottish Power, added: “We have been friends for over 30 years and when we met up last year - over a few drinks I may add - I thought it would be an interesting thing to try and do for our 50th birthdays. 

“Strathcarron is such a well know place in the area so it was really a no brainer that would be the charity we would do it for. Too many friends and family members have had to use it over the years and my wife Nicola works there as a nurse.

“When we were cycling across the Somme and seeing the graveyards, it really brought home to me about the place we were cycling through – it was really poignant. A friend’s wife was also in the Hospice when we were doing the challenge and she was in my thoughts.

“It was tough, but it was a great sense of achievement managing to do it. When I tell people about the challenge - 320 miles into a headwind - they’re all pretty amazed we did it.”

The group all agreed the main highlight was cycling into Paris around the Arc De Triomphe culminating at an emotional finish at the Eiffel Tower met by their families.

Paul added: “The emotion on last day knowing our family were waiting for us was overwhelming, cycling into the Eiffel Tower just hearing the cheers before we could see them was just wonderful.”

Strathcarron Hospice supports people across Forth Valley, Cumbernauld and Kilsyth living with a life limiting condition. The Hospice needs to raise around £19,452 a day to provide all their services, which are free to those who use them across our local communities.

If you would like to take on a challenge for Strathcarron like Jamie, Paul, Elaine and Lorna, find out more Fundraising for Strathcarron