From the Granite City to the City of Light, duo cycle 900 miles from Aberdeen to Paris in gruelling challenge calling for closer-to-home support for niece and nephew.
Fundraising for Charlie House comes in all shapes and sizes. Whether it’s holding a raffle, hosting a bake sale, taking on the Kiltwalk, or going all out at the Beast Race, our local fundraising community always finds creative ways to go the extra mile.
Aberdeen friends Katy Townhill and Sarah McKechnie literally went the extra mile with their plan to cycle more than 900 miles from Aberdeen to Paris in just 14 days. The determined duo wanted to not just raise vital funds for but also highlight the tough reality some North-east families have to face each and every day.
Katy’s family have been supported by Charlie House since 2018.
Her niece Lucy and nephew Roy live with a rare degenerative condition, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 3. For essential treatment and specialist respite care, families like Katy’s often face a harsh 200-mile round trip from Aberdeen to the Central Belt of Scotland.
To highlight that reality and experience it firsthand, the duo committed to cycling as many miles as they could. Starting from Charlie House HQ in Aberdeen, their travels took them through the UK before crossing by ferry to mainland Europe, continuing through the Netherlands and Belgium before reaching their destination in Paris.
We caught up with Katy and Sarah after they returned to hear more about their epic 14-day cycle, the moments that kept them motivated, and what it meant to take on such a personal fundraising challenge.
Tell us a bit about the people behind the ‘Paris Cycling Duo’.
Katy: “My name’s Katy, I’m 37, married, and I’ve got two kids, nine year old Abi and Grace who’s six. I’ve worked here in Aberdeen for over 17 years and got to know Charlie House through my family.”
Sarah: “I’m Sarah, I’m 35 and live in Aberdeen with my husband and our two children. I met Katy because our children go to school together and play football. We got chatting on the sidelines and, well, life hasn’t been the same since!”
What made you choose to fundraise for Charlie House?
Katy: “I first got to know Charlie House through my niece Lucy and nephew Roy, who been supported by the charity since 2018. Charlie House has been a huge part of our family’s life, giving us support, taking us out on activities, and even short-stay holiday breaks. That’s when Sarah and I started talking about ways to give back. We landed on the crazy idea of cycling to Paris near the start of the year.”
Sarah: “It started as an inside joke, really. We were watching the Tour de France and said, ‘Let’s cycle to Paris!’ Then, before we knew it, we were actually planning it. We thought we’d both better get our own bikes first however as we were both still cycling novices at that point!”
How did you train and prepare for the 900-mile cycle?
Sarah: “It wasn’t easy. We’d only just taken up cycling as a proper hobby and we had to fit our training around a busy work schedule and looking after our kids. I used my training bike at home a lot and ran outdoors whenever I could.”
Katy: “I get grumpy if I don’t do something every day, so I kept up cycling, running, and swimming… anything to keep my cardio up. I then worked on our food plans and sat down to map out the routes properly. We also set up a Facebook page where we settled on the name Paris Cycling Duo and kept our friends, family, and supporters updated on our progress. This part was key to us keeping our fundraising going strong."
What was it like setting off from Aberdeen on your two-week challenge?
Katy: “We set off from Charlie House early in the morning and were blown away by how many of our friends and family came down to see us off. Everyone was banging drums, cheering and holding banners. It was really special. The weather was amazing for setting off, too!”
Sarah: “On day one I was in charge of directions. It was roasting hot with the first couple of days being scorchers, but the sun didn’t last. The rain came on hard from day three, however this didn’t put us off in the slightest as everyone kept sending lovely messages of support on our Facebook page. We felt so lucky.”
Also there to cheer them off were Katy’s niece Lucy, the inspiration behind the challenge, and Lucy’s mum, Allyson. They shared what it meant to see the pair take on this challenge:
Allyson: “It’s emotional. We’ve had a tough year. Lucy had major spinal surgery with very little notice, and recovery hasn’t been easy. Seeing Katy and Sarah do this, especially knowing they only started cycling properly a year ago, it’s incredible. They’ve already raised thousands, and every penny helps. It’s also not about hitting a huge target. Even £5 raised from a bake sale makes a difference. It all adds up, and we’re so grateful to everyone who supports Charlie House in their own way.”
Lucy: “Seeing my auntie take on this challenge with her friend is so inspiring. Katy didn’t even like cycling that much before, and now they’re both cycling all the way to Paris. Wow.”
How did you stay motivated on your way down to Hull for the ferry?
Sarah: “For me it was a proper break from routine. It was hard work, but I liked that. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and that’s what any challenge of this type should do.”
Katy: “Connecting with people is what kept me going. On the road and during pit stops we’d meet folk who stopped to ask what we were doing. Their encouragement meant a lot. And honestly, I’m so proud of Sarah. At first, she found cycling on a proper race bike quite daunting, but soon enough she was cycling like a pro, even showing me up!”
Once you reached Europe, what was the most difficult part of the ride?
Katy: “I thought the challenge would be all physical, but it was surprisingly more of a mental challenge, where you had to stay focused to keep going. As we trained well and planned our nutrition ahead of time, our bodies were surprisingly fine with the long days of cycling.”
Sarah: “There were definitely moments one of us struggled, but the other would push on which would encourage you to also keep it up. Belgium was tough with bumpy roads, strong winds, and the challenge of adjusting to cycling on the opposite side of the road, but the sights made it all worth it.”
Tell us about the moment you arrived in Paris?
Katy: “We knew our families would be there in Paris, but we didn’t realise how special their welcome would be. The kids had created these colourful posters covered in messages and drawings, and they were waving and cheering as we arrived at the Eiffel Tower. It meant the world to see them there celebrating reaching our goal.”
Sarah: “Crossing the finish line and seeing the kids after such a long journey is something I’ll never forget. It was the perfect ending to an amazing challenge.”
What are some of the memories that will stay with you?
Sarah: “A cycling challenge is also such a good way to see places you’ve never been to. You take in so much more of the surrounding scenery and meet some interesting people. One thing I did love was the windmills in Holland, having only ever seen them in pictures. That was on my list of things to see, and I did it.”
Katy: “The icing on the cake was that we got to see the Tour de France in person just two days after finishing our challenge, which was the perfect full-circle moment. Best of all, this is a story we’ll be telling our grandkids one day.”
What’s next for the Paris Cycling Duo?
Katy: “I’ll be doing Ride the North next. I think Sarah’s got a marathon in her. Or maybe another cycle challenge?”
Sarah: “No thank you, for now. I need a break!”
Feeling inspired? Whether it’s a personal challenge, a community event, or a creative fundraiser, every effort helps make a difference for children and families across the North-east of Scotland. Find out how you can start your own fundraiser or support Charlie House by visiting: www.charliehouse.org.uk/support-us/raise-funds.
To keep up to date with Katy and Sarah’s fundraising efforts, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61568925805877.
Discover more on how Charlie House helps local children and families across the North-east of Scotland: www.charliehouse.org.uk/how-we-can-help.
