TV's Dermot Murnaghan Supports London-Paris Charity Ride
News Posted: 28 March 2008
London to Paris - here they come! Adrenalin pumping, lungs bursting, and pedals turning, a group of friends from across London and the South East are going to be cycling 226 miles from London to Paris over the late May Bank Holiday this year.
The motivation for the team members is to raise money for CHASE hospice care for children which provided support and help to one of the riders, Iain Armitage, and his family. Iain's son Lachlan died last year but if anything this has given the riders even more determination to take part in the event and to try and raise �100,000 for the children's hospice charity.
Joining them for the ride is Sky news broadcaster Dermot Murnaghan who is no stranger to charity events, having completed the London Triathlon for another children's charity last year.
Iain and his wife Charis had a beautiful son called Lachlan who was diagnosed with Tay Sachs in June 2005 at the age of 11 months, a metabolic disease which destroys brain cells and which is a life-limiting condition. The family, received support and help from CHASE hospice care for children at home and at the CHASE children's hospice, near Guildford.
Iain and Charis decided to set up the Lachlan Armitage Tribute Fund in January 2006 so people could donate money directly, carry out fundraising themselves or raise sponsorship to contribute to Lachlan's fund with all money raised going directly to CHASE.
Then the cycling began. In 2006 Iain and three friends decided to cycle 226 miles in two and a half days from Battersea Park to the Eiffel Tower, raising an �38,500 for Lachlan's fund.
The following year Iain managed to persuade 15 others to join the original quartet, doing the Paris trip again, to a triumphant finish and their biggest fundraising effort to date - a grand total of �71,000. Only a few weeks after this second ride, Lachlan passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his toys and his family on 3rd July 2007, one day from his third birthday.
Iain believed it was important for the ride to take place again this year. Seemingly not dissuaded by the countless punctures and other obstacles encountered last time, the intrepid cyclists of 2007 are at it again. But this time the company has grown to 42 riders, foolhardy and brave enough to take on this journey as well as set themselves a target to raise �100,000.
Iain Armitage said: "We expect blood, sweat, tears, and the occasional vin rouge and above all to raise money through Lachlan's fund, for CHASE."
They leave the Battersea Park Peace Pagoda in London on Saturday 24th May heading first for Guildford where they will make a stopover at the CHASE children's hospice, Christopher's. Those who have not seen the hospice will have a tour around the building before getting back on the road to Portsmouth and the ferry, which will take them across the Channel for the remainder of their journey to Paris - destination Eiffel Tower by Monday.
Iain knows many of the riders personally, some were at school together and motivation is high to raise as much money as they can.
The riders have split themselves into small teams and all details including Just Giving sponsorship details can be found on the event website at: www.londonparis08.com
The title sponsor for the ride is Watt Search and Selection, a City recruitment firm, and is also being sponsored by Canon UK, Citigroup, Lehman Brothers, Tennis Properties Ltd, Heyford Developments, Nexen Inc, SES New Skies, and Tradition.
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