Cycling friends raise £100,000 for Sheffield Children's Hospital through challenges

The bunch decided five years ago to do something for the worthy cause after it cared for one of their children before his tragic and untimely death, and have now raised £100,000.

It was in 2015 when the group of five amateur cyclists came together to devote a shared love of cycling and raise cash.

A determined effort from five Sheffield dads has taken them across Europe, with challenges taking in the sights of London, Paris and Geneva, raising the incredible six-figure total to support The Children’s Hospital Charity.

The fundraising drive began after an experience on a campsite in Bradfield on the outskirts of Sheffield as ‘FatLad 1’ James Hope-Gill recalls: “It all started when some of us went camping together to watch the Tour de France as it came to Yorkshire in 2014. It inspired us massively to start a challenge of our own.”

For James, the cause had special personal significance. His 18-month-old son Timothy was diagnosed with a rare genetic disease, Hurler’s syndrome, at Sheffield Children’s Hospital before sadly passing away on Christmas Day in 1999.

The group’s first challenge saw the five original members, James Hope-Gill, Craig Smith, Dean Dove, Matt Currie and Pete Everitt ride from London to Paris, raising £40,000 to fund a single patient room in one of the three world-class new wards at the hospital.

The wards opened to patients in April 2018 and soon the group expanded, in numbers as well as waistline, to feature four more fathers keen to help; Andrew Miller, Simon Broughton, Guy Craig and Farley Grist. Matt Milbourn also provided logistical support to ensure the challenges could be completed safely.

The second challenge saw a gruelling 360-mile cycle across Europe. Starting from the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the route took the amateur cyclists through France and over the Juras Mountains in Switzerland, before they reached the finish in Geneva.

“We did the final leg in brutal temperatures of up to 40 degrees”, James explains. “I remember riding up this steep incline and seeing the tarmac below my wheels bubble, it was so hot. It was just a case of keeping your head down and putting one foot in front of the other.

“It was really tough but equally rewarding. People put their faith in you to complete the challenge so that acts as motivation, but so does knowing that we were doing it for a fantastic local cause in The Children’s Hospital Charity.

“The view from the summit looking over Lake Geneva was incredible, I’ll never forget it. The adrenaline kicked in and there was an overwhelming sense of what we had achieved. Unfortunately, we still had another 20 miles to go after that!”

Thankfully, the Fat Lads’ made it to the finish, with the fundraising also boosted by a ‘Best of Sheffield’ ball hosted at Sheffield City Hall. Attended by over 160 people, it was supported by The Children’s Hospital Charity’s patrons BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker, Olympic Gold medallist Dame Jessica Ennis Hill, three-time squash world champion Nick Matthew and Ryder Cup golfer Matt Fitzpatrick.

The evening’s auction also featured a series of money-can’t-buy prizes, including a generous prize donated by renowned artist Pete McKee and a road bike by Giant Sheffield. Other fundraisers included coffee mornings, a sponsored spin bike challenge and cleaning clubs at Abbeydale Golf Club.

In total, a further £60,000 was raised towards the appeal to build a new Emergency Department at Sheffield Children’s Hospital.

James added: “Beyond the team members and everyone who has donated and supported us, I think we would all like to thank our families and friends.

“From helping with coffee mornings and bake sales, to putting up with us when we’ve been so single-mindedly determined on fundraising, we couldn’t have done it without them.”

The milestone isn’t necessarily the end of their fundraising either, with a promise that the next challenge will be something very different:

“Stay tuned to find out what’s next for the Fat Lads. All I can say is that it’s a long way out of our comfort zone and will bring more than a few smiles to those watching on!” James adds.

Director of The Children’s Hospital Charity, David Vernon Edwards said: “The Fat Lads’ support for Sheffield Children’s has been incredible. We’re so thankful to everyone who has dedicated themselves tirelessly to this effort.

“To reach £100,000 is a remarkable achievement and has helped to build three world-class new wards as well as the ongoing appeal to transform the Emergency Department.”

To support The Children’s Hospital Charity in this unprecedented time, visit www.tchc.org.uk

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