Family cycle to Paris and back in RNLI Mudeford fundraiser

Husband and wife Graeme and Elinor Staddon, and their 16-year-old son Toby, challenged themselves to cycle 420 miles from Mudeford to Paris and back.

For Graeme, a volunteer launch authority with the RNLI, it was a chance to raise money for a charity he “cares deeply” about, while enjoying a “stunning journey” with his family.

The trio first set off from Mudeford Lifeboat Station on Sunday, July 16, to align with the RNLI Mudeford Lifeboat Funday which takes place at the Quay annually.

Rocking bright RNLI T-shirts and second-hand bikes, they cycled to Portsmouth, before taking the overnight ferry to Caen.

The trio cycled a total of 420 miles (Image: Graeme Staddon)

Once across the water, they got back on their bikes and travelled to Evreux and then their final destination – Paris.

After taking a few photographs at the city’s tourist attractions, the family then began the long journey back to Mudeford.

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They arrived back to the lifeboat station on the morning of Friday, July 21, welcomed home by crowds of RNLI volunteers.

Speaking to the Daily Echo just hours after his return, 54-year-old Graeme, said: “I had a tear in my eye as we crossed the line because it was a lot harder than I thought it would be.

Graeme, Elinor and Toby on route (Image: Graeme Staddon)

"You’re spending all day on a bike, and you’re forcing food down you to keep going.

"We were doing about 70 miles a day on average, with over 90 on some days. I was burning about 4,000 calories a day on the longer rides.

"It feels like a great achievement. I think it will start to sink in soon.

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“I’m feeling very achy- I definitely won’t be sitting on a saddle anytime soon."

Graeme, Elinor and Toby have been running a Just Giving page to promote their fundraiser for the RNLI.

At the time of writing, the page had gathered more than £1,900 in donations.

View it here https://www.justgiving.com/page/mudeford-dla-bike-ride2023?utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=page%2Fmudeford-dla-bike-ride2023&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=pfp-share