A dedicated children’s nurse is taking on a mammoth cycle to celebrate Children’s Hospice Week 2024.
Francesca Lennon, from Buckinghamshire, will cycle 54 miles each day – representing the 54 children’s hospices in the UK.
She will visit seven hospices over seven days and will complete her epic challenge at Derian House Children’s Hospice on Sunday.
The challenge will raise money for Together for Short Lives, the charity that looks after all of the country’s children’s hospices, and will be split between each hospice.
Francesca worked as a children’s nurse in the NHS and children’s hospices before setting up CHAT UK – a project to raise awareness and funds for all children’s hospices across the country.
She will set off from Derian House at 9am on Sunday, 23 June, returning that afternoon to be cheered on by supporters, hospice staff and families.
The fundraiser is taking place during Children’s Hospice Week (17-23 June 2024), the UK’s annual awareness week for children’s hospices and palliative care services, run by Together for Short Lives.
This is the second time Francesca’s challenge has come to Derian House. In 2022, she took on a mammoth 3200-mile cycle during Children’s Hospice Week in 2022, visiting every children’s hospice in the UK and raising over £80,000 for Together for Short Lives.
Francesca, from Chenies in Buckinghamshire said: “I know first-hand that caring for a child with serious health needs 24/7 is emotionally and physically exhausting. Every day in my job, I get to meet the most incredible children and families, and I see just how life-changing support from children’s hospices are for them. They will push me on to cross the finishing line once again.”
Caroline Taylor, Director of Income and Engagement at Derian House, said: “Children’s Hospice Week is a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on the work we do at Derian House. The cycling challenge will be a definite highlight of the week. Francesca’s story is one that has touched us all and we cannot wait to celebrate her arrival in Chorley.”
Alongside Derian House Children’s Hospice, Francesca is also cycling to and from Demelza, Acorns Children’s Hospice, Children’s Hospice South West’s Charlton Farm, Tŷ Hafan, Rainbows, Martin House, and Helen and Douglas House.
Nick Carroll, Director of Fundraising at Together for Short Lives added: “Francesca is, quite simply, one of the most inspiring people we know. Not only is she there for seriously ill children and families in her job, but she is also going the extra mile for them in this incredible challenge. It is a privilege to have her support, and we will be cheering the whole team on as they also help raise important awareness of the role children’s hospices play and why they urgently need more support from whichever party forms the next government.”
To support Francesca and raise money for hospices like Derian House, visit https://www.justgiving.com/chatuk.
