A PAEDIARTIC nurse is cycling to every children’s hospice in the UK over 70 days.

Francesca Lennon will be cycling 3,200 miles over 70 days (an average of 46 miles a day) from June 20 to August 28.

She will be visiting all 54 children’s hospice in the UK – including Ty Hafan in Sully.

Inspired by her work with seriously ill children for more than a decade Ms Lennon recently founded ChatUK (Children’s Hospices Across The UK), a project aimed at creating a network between the independent UK children’s hospices and educating the nation about the importance of them.

ChatUK is dedicated to Henry - the son of Ms Lennon's close friend - who recently died from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia at nine years old.

Barry And District News:

The challenge is part of the project’s launch and will raise funds for children’s palliative care charity, Together for Short Lives, with the money split between all 54 children’s hospices. She hopes to raise £500,000.

The challenge will see Ms Lennon visit Ty Hafan in Sully on Wednesday June 22; the full list of hospices is available here.

Ms Lennon said:

“I wanted to bring people together to raise awareness and funds for children’s hospices... I didn’t know how until I attended a talk by Ben Fogle where he said to ‘Find your Everest’.

"Given I didn’t actually own a bike and hadn’t ridden one since I was a child, it has definitely been an Everest to get to where I am today!"

Barry And District News:

As part of the challenge, ChatUK is encouraging children across the UK to ‘race Francesca’ by working together to travel the same distance on their own wheels - be it by bike, scooter, wheelchair, or any wheels possible.

A fundraising pack is available on the ChatUK website for more information on how to get involved: chatukproject.com/race-francesca-challenge.

More information about Francesca’s journey and CHAT UK is available at chatukproject.com and donations can be made at justgiving.com/team/CHATUK