From Perth to Preston to take part in Big Charity Bike Ride!

An ex-pat from Preston is set to travel an incredible 15,000 miles from Australia back to his native city to take part in the St Catherine’s Hospice Big Charity Bike Ride!

Paul Hindle will join his brother Stephen and nephew Kyle for the event on Sunday May 17, when they will take to two wheels for a 50-mile ride.

Stephen and Kyle, aged 23, were keen to sign up and support their local hospice after Stephen’s father-in-law and Kyle’s grandfather Harry Ronson was cared for at St Catherine’s in 2008. Last year Stephen’s sister Julie Hindle was also looked after at Trinity Hospice in Blackpool, which re-enforced to them how important local hospices are to their communities.

When Paul, aged 50, heard about the challenge all the way over in Perth, Western Australia, he decided he didn’t want to miss out – and booked a trip back to the UK so that he could take part too!

There are still places left in the bike ride – which also includes a family-friendly 20-mile circuit of the Preston Guild Wheel or a 75-mile challenge ride introduced to mark the St Catherine’s 30th anniversary – and the hospice is encouraging people to sign up and show their support.

Paul, whose work for Scania took him Down Under three years ago, said: “When Kyle told me what they were planning I knew I wanted to be part of it.

“The support hospices have given to our family has been incredible and this is our way of giving something back. I’ll be arriving on May 13th which gives me a few days to get over the jetlag! It will be fantastic to get out in the Lancashire countryside again during the bike ride – it’s certainly a very different landscape to the one where I live now!”

Stephen, aged 51 and from Grimsnargh, said there would be some healthy competition between them on the day.

“Kyle and I enjoy cycling and have been doing a bit of training. Paul is really into his fitness and will no doubt want to beat his big brother past the finish line!”

The retired policeman, who now works at Burnley Borough Council, added: “It’s nice that we’ll be able to do this together as a family, particularly as it’s St Catherine’s 30th anniversary this year. The care they gave to Harry was wonderful and we’ve done various things over the years to raise funds – including my daughter who hand-made Christmas cards to sell in aid of the hospice.

“When Julie, my sister, was looked after at Trinity Hospice last year it brought it all to the forefront again. It was important for us to do something to acknowledge that. As St Catherine’s is our local hospice, and we’re all interested in cycling, the Big Charity Bike Ride was the obvious choice!

“Until we were in the situation where we needed the care of a hospice, we didn’t fully understand the difference they make. Knowing how much they rely on local people’s support, we wanted to do something to raise funds so that other families can experience the same care we did.”

Lynne Whittaker, senior fundraiser at St Catherine’s Hospice, said: “This has got to be the furthest anyone has ever travelled to take part in our Big Charity Bike Ride – we’re over the moon that Paul is making the effort to travel from the other side of the world to take part!

“However, numbers are currently down compared to previous years which is why we’re putting a final call out to our wonderful supporters to consider signing up. If you’re a cycling novice, there is the 20-mile Guild Wheel loop which is also great for families, or if you’re more experienced and looking for a bigger challenge there are the 50 or 75 mile routes. We guarantee a great day out, which will raise vital funds to support the work of St Catherine’s now and in the future.”
The Big Charity Bike Ride takes place on Sunday May 17, starting and finishing at Preston Grasshoppers. To register for either the 20, 50 or 75 mile ride click here or call 01772 629171.

Share with your friends!