Posted on 14th May 2026

A Shropshire man who cycled more than 300 miles from London to Paris to support us is encouraging others to sign up and “step out of their comfort zone”.

Patrick Murphy, known as Paddy, took on the four-day challenge for us after his father-in-law David received our specialist care.

Paddy described the bike ride experience as “the hardest thing I’ve ever done” – but said he would still urge others to give it a go.

He said: “All my friends thought I was mad. But being a personal trainer and a former cyclist, I thought it would be fine.

Motivation

“After the first training ride I did, I came back thinking, ‘I can’t do this.’”
But his motivation remained strong – and deeply personal – as he remembered the care Severn Hospice gave to his wife Bryony’s father.

He said: “We’ll always support the hospice. What they did for our family means everything.”

Training for the event meant early starts and long days in the saddle for the keen cyclist – but the real test came during the challenge itself.

Tough

Riders faced tough conditions from the outset, tackling steep hills and poor weather as they journeyed from the English countryside through scenic French routes to a glorious finish in Paris.

Paddy said: “The emotional highlight for me came at the finish line, where I was reunited with my wife. That was everything – I just broke down.”

He also praised Severn Hospice’s challenge organisers, Global Adventure Challenges, who supported cyclists with logistics, accommodation and on-route assistance.

He said: “All you had to do was get on your bike. They took care of everything else.”

Encouraging

Paddy is now encouraging others to sign up for our London to Paris challenge this summer, with places filling quickly and the final sign-up date just a week away.

Paddy said: “It takes you out of your comfort zone – but that’s where the reward is. I’d encourage anyone to just go for it.”

The 309-mile ride takes participants from the capital to the Eiffel Tower, with full support provided in return for a £149 registration fee and a £1,900 fundraising target.

Severn Hospice provides specialist palliative care and support to people living with incurable illness across Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin and North Powys and has to raise £2 for every £3 it spends.

Nicky Green, our senior community fundraiser, said: “Challenges like this are a great opportunity for our supporters to experience something unforgettable while raising funds for our care – and their support means so much to us and local people we care for.

“We’d love to hear from anyone who is ready to take it on.”

For more information, visit: severnhospice.org.uk/takeiton