The London to Paris Bike Ride is an awesome cycling challenge and by far one of the best fundraising events in Europe! Take part and help young adults live well with and beyond cancer.

The Challenge

We’ll spend 4 days in the saddle, cycling from capital to capital. Our journey begins in London, with our route taking us through glorious English countryside as we cycle from Kent to Dover, before crossing the Channel and continuing through the rolling green fields of Northern France, where we pass the war memorials and cemeteries of the Somme. A spectacular finish awaits us as we reach the home stretch around the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs Elysées, before reaching the pièce de résistance, the Eiffel Tower, which marks our finish line.

Make a Difference

"Life Changing. Helped me come back to the person I felt I was losing." 

This young person came to us for help after struggling to come to terms with having cancer and the challenging effects of treatment at 25 years old. We supported this young person with a course of clinical psychology from our specialist team. A course of clinical psychology costs on average £600-800 to provide life changing differences and help young adults navigate through mental health struggles such has trauma and PTSD. Your participation in this challenge could help fund a course of psychology for a young adult going through cancer. You can help to make life changing differences. 

You can help to make life changing differences. Since our launch in 2022, we have provided highly impactful support to over 350 young people with cancer and their families, thanks to the incredibly generosity of people like you. 

Make a Difference and Sign Up Today

Challenge Highlights

• Travel between two iconic capital cities by bike!
• Pass by war memorials and through the Somme
• Celebrate your achievement in style in Paris
• Combine iconic landmarks and history with picturesque scenery
• One tree planted per participant

The Itinerary

Choose your trip dates with Global Adventure Challenges, click to Read the full brochure, FAQ's and more

Day 1 - London to Calais

After registration we set off early to avoid the main hustle and bustle of the London traffic. It’s not too long before we’re past the outskirts of London and hitting the countryside of Kent. It’s a long cycling day today but upon reaching the port of Dover and seeing the famous white cliffs, there’ll be a great sense of achievement. We then board the ferry to Calais and have dinner whilst on board. Upon reaching Calais, it’s just a very short push onto our hotel where we have a well-deserved rest and get our heads down for the night.

Cycling distance – approx. 86 miles

Day 2 - Calais to Arras

Following breakfast at our hotel we leave Calais behind us, remembering to stay on the right! We begin cycling on smooth, flat roads for approximately 10 miles, before we start to pull up towards our first water stop. The route then becomes more undulating as we cycle through the French countryside up to our lunch stop. Some small climbs after lunch bring us to a gentle descent into the beautiful medieval town of Arras, one of the prettiest towns in northern France, where we check into our hotel.

Cycling distance – approx. 82 miles

Day 3 - Arras to Compiègne

After breakfast, we continue with our cycle and head south through the Region of the Somme and its WWI battlefields – rolling, green meadows studded with the many war memorials and cemeteries of the First World War. Following traditionally French, tree-lined avenues, we approach our next overnight stop in Compiègne. Since 1968, Compiègne has been the starting place of the “Paris-Roubaix”, the most famous French cycling race after the Tour de France.

Cycling distance – approx. 76 miles

Day 4 - Compiègne to Paris

The final day of our European cycling adventure! Our last day in the saddle sees us leaving Compiègne riding through the beautiful forest surrounding the town – it was in this forest that the 1918 Armistice was signed. Our route then continues through pretty towns and villages towards the outskirts of Paris. Cycling is the national sport of France and it’s not uncommon to see locals cheering and waving us on. We cycle through the hustle and bustle of the Parisian streets until we reach the Louvre where we stop to re-assemble. We then ride as a group up the majestic Champs Elysées to our finish line at the Champ de Mars, looking back at the Eiffel Tower! This evening we toast our achievements at a celebratory dinner.

Cycling distance – approx. 67 miles

Day 5 - Paris to UK

After breakfast at our hotel,we are free to enjoy the sights and sounds of Paris. Take a trip up the Tower, visit the renowned Arc de Triomphe or famous Notre Dame Cathedral, or simply soak up the atmosphere in one of the many cafés – the choices are endless! In the early afternoon, each participant will be responsible for getting themselves to Gare du Nord in order to catch the Eurostar back to England. Bicycles will be transported back to London by our crew in the support vehicles and will be waiting for you on arrival at the starting point, ready for you to continue your homeward journey.

Please note, this is a complex itinerary and subject to change.

What's Included

•  One way ferry crossing from Dover to Calais
• One way Eurostar ticket from Paris to London
• All accommodation with the exception of the evening prior to the start of the challenge
• Lunch on day 1, breakfast, lunch and dinner on days 2, 3 and 4, and breakfast on day 5
• Refreshment stops including water, fruit and a variety of snacks/energy bars/cereal bars every 15-20 miles cycled approx.
• Back up and support vehicles
• Route markers or cycle guides
• English-speaking guides
• Global Adventure Challenges Event Crew
• Mechanic support. Basic spare bike parts will be taken but please note, we cannot cater for every eventuality, therefore it is vital that participants ensure that their bike is in full working order and in good condition. You will be billed for any spare parts used.
• Challenge Medal
• Ella Dawson Foundation Charity Cycling Jersey
• Fundraising Pack & Support from the Ella Dawson Foundation Team

What's Not Included

• Breakfast and dinner on day 1, lunch and dinner on day 5
• Alcoholic drinks
• Bicycle hire – each participant must bring their own recently serviced bicycle
• Bicycle insurance
• Travel insurance
• Tips and gratuities

Make a Difference and Sign Up Today

The Ella Dawson Foundation will be with you every step of the way supporting you with your fundraising. Thank you so much for choosing to raise money and take on this incredible challenge to make a difference to the lives of young people with cancer and their families.

Responsible Tourism is high on both our priority lists. Preserving landscapes and treating them with respect is standard, and we believe we must find the time to care, not only for the places, we visit but for their people too.

Please note this challenge is organised, delivered and run by Global Adventure Challenges and you may be trekking with individuals raising money for other charities or for themselves. The Ella Dawson Foundation is not responsible for the delivery of this challenge.