The team of four took on the gruelling cycle between the two capitals for Strathcarron Hospice.
Four friends hit the saddle recently for a gruelling 309 mile cycle from London to Paris – all to support a local hospice which looked after their loved ones.
Lorna Muirhead, Jamie McWilliam and siblings Elaine Blackwood and Paul Valentine were part of more than 100 cyclists on the European challenge and raising money for Strathcarron Hospice along the way.
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 50th 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.
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!”
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.
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 known 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.”
