Friends complete 200-mile charity ride from UK to France on penny farthings

By Lauren Beavis via SWNS

Two friends have completed a charity ride of 200 miles from the UK to France - on penny-farthings.

Matt Richardson and Bill Pollard, both 57, cycled from Henley-on-Thames to Paris for Macmillan Cancer Support - and raised £16,614.

The pair posted a picture of them just in front of the Eiffel Tower with their penny farthings and wrote: "Well done. Mission accomplished.

"During the past five days, the words 'What on earth are we doing?!' or something slightly stronger have been used many times."

Matt and Bill arrived at the Eiffel Tower on Wednesday (12 June) at 4:30 pm, having added five miles and over an hour to the last part of our journey.

They said: "As we arrived, aside from the predictable physical and mental exhaustion, emotions included relief to have made it in one piece; pride in having raised so much for Macmillan Cancer Support; joy to have completed such a ridiculous adventure in style; warmth at the many beautiful encounters, both planned and spontaneous, that we had every day; and great sadness that it has now come to an end.

"Many more emotions are still to come, we are sure, as we process what has happened.

"Huge thanks again to all who have followed and donated."

Matt was diagnosed with tonsil and lymph node cancer in 2022 and is currently cancer-free - so he rode the route with his friend of 39 years to fundraise and in memory of Matt's father, who sadly died from the same cancer 1999.

They rode their penny farthings from Henley to Newhaven and having crossed the channel from Dieppe to Paris.

Matt, a father of two, rowed at the Commonwealth Games in 1994 and is a former GB national rowing champion.

You can still donate to Matt and Bill's fundraiser here.