12-year-old friends take on 250-mile cycling challenge

Iris Williams and Esmae Pinnock are fundraising for Sense in honour of Iris’ big sister Mia, who will also be taking on her own inclusive cycling challenge.

Iris and Esmae are preparing to cycle 250 miles from London to Paris, starting at the London Eye. From there, they will cycle to Newhaven, catch a ferry to Dieppe and pedal on through northern France to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Iris’s mum, Fran, will ride alongside the girls, while Iris’s granddad, Ed, who has twice cycled from London to Paris to fundraise for Sense, will follow by car as their support driver and puncture mender!

They start on 29th June, and aim to cover the route in just five days while raising thousands of pounds for Sense, which has supported Iris’ sister, Mia, since she was aged three.

After the determined duo arrive in Paris, Mia, 19, who is blind and has cerebral palsy, will take on a cycling challenge of her own.

Our annual cycling challenge, Tour De Sense, is a fully inclusive three-week cycling event that launches on 4th July. Tour De Sense encourages all disabled people with complex needs, their families, supporters, and wider communities to get on a bike, use a gym bike, or hand and foot pedals, and notch up communal miles.

Mia has already signed up to take part!

Ahead of their long ride, Iris and Esmae shared their story…

Iris said:

“I wanted to do a sponsored bike ride for Mia, and then me and my friends came up with the idea of going to Paris. Even though I love going on my bike, I’ve not done any really long cycle rides before – nothing further than 20 miles.

“When we go from London to Paris, we’ll need to do about 50 miles a day to get there in five days. It’s really good to be doing this with Esmae because we will keep each other company on the road and she’s very motivating. We’ve been friends since we were three and went to primary school together. Now we’re in year seven at different secondary schools but we still meet up and go to athletics club together.

“When we did our first 40-mile training ride, it wasn’t too bad and we both thought we could cycle another 40 or 50 miles the next day, so we think London to Paris is possible. There’s always the worry of getting a puncture though, or being late for the ferry. Luckily, we have got my grandpa coming with us. He’s done the ride we’re doing twice before and can definitely repair a puncture!”

Esmae said:

“I told mum about the sponsored bike ride just after I got off the phone with Iris. I told her, ‘Guess how Iris got my attention. She’s just asked me to cycle to Paris and I’ve said yes!’

“I’m really excited that it’s actually going to happen now. Our families are close and I see how Sense supports Mia so I’m very happy we’re fundraising for the charity. My friends think it’s really good we’re doing this – and they also think we’re crazy.

“Obviously, it’s going to be a really hard thing to do; I’ve never done a bike ride like this before. But we’ve been training hard, strength training in the gym every Monday and going for 50 to 60 mile cycle rides on the weekend. On top of that, I play for two football teams and do athletics, so I feel fit and ready.”