Dad launches 2016 cycling event '24 hours 2 Le Mans' after "rollercoaster ride" with sick baby

David Williams has created an exciting new cycling challenge which will push participants to test their endurance as they ride from The Royal London Hospital, East London to the Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans – in 24 hours.

David's family were supported by The Sick Children's Trust's Chestnut House when their daughter Aoife needed lifesaving treatment at The Rosie Hospital in Cambridge. You can read their family story here. 

David says: "I wanted to organise an event which would be both an unusual and inspirational challenge, as well as a tool to raise awareness of the charity which gave so much to my wife and I while our little one was dangerously ill in hospital. 

"We live about an hour and a half away, so without Chestnut House it would have been a nightmare having to come back and forth with Aoife being so poorly. We would have literally had to camp at the hospital. In addition, my wife was transferred as an in-patient and wasn't entirely well herself due to an emergency caesarean. Staying at Chestnut House meant I could always be on-hand for them both - I genuinely slept soundly every night as I knew I was so close."

Aided by a comprehensive support crew, the '24 hours 2 Le Mans' riders will cycle in relay teams of three through around 360 miles of beautiful English and French countryside. Their final destination will be the home of the world famous motor endurance race, the week before it takes place.

To take part in '24 hours 2 Le Mans', riders need to register on the dedicated website and agree to raise a minimum of £500 for The Sick Children’s Trust. Although the challenge is a year away, this exciting new event has already had a lot of interest and riders will be guaranteed a fantastic challenge for a special charity, which will stay with them long after they have successfully completed the course. 

David adds: "Today, we're all at home and enjoying life. Every day we’re amazed that we have a bouncing, healthy baby (who's just cut her first tooth). Her first six months have been such a rollercoaster and we couldn’t have done it without the help of The Sick Children’s Trust.

"We know the difference Chestnut House made to our family, but many more families need the charity's support. The aim of this event is to raise at least £26,000 to keep two rooms going for a year at the house, giving families in the most difficult of situations a much-needed lifeline."

To make a donation in support of David's fundraising, please visit his Just Giving page.