This year, St Clare Hospice took care of Shane (Ruari's dad, Neil's father-in-law) as his pancreatic cancer progressed. The hospice helped to control his symptoms, provided emotional support for him and the the whole family, and, eventually, took care of Shane round the clock at the end of his life.

The hospice is entirely free for patients and their families, and runs almost entirely from charitable donations. The work they do is indispensable, and we are determined to make sure that future patients and their families can benefit from their support.

London to Paris is no picnic: nearly 200 miles on the bike within 24 hours. It will take a lot of dedication in training, and a lot of pain on the day, but we'll get there with your support.

This ride is particularly special; Shane was a keen cyclist, and we'll be crossing the channel on the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry, which is where he and Lucinda first met.

Thank you for reading this, and please donate generously to this excellent cause.

Ruari and Neil.