They left Paris at 12.35 CET (11.35 GMT) on Saturday 22 June, rode north, having to deal with the mid-day Paris traffic. They continued cycling north through the rolling French countryside, and into a strong headwind that they had to battle for the remaining distance of the ride. They reached the ferry port of Dieppe at 23.03 CET (22.03 GMT) with a ride time of 10 hours 28 minutes, well over two hours behind their initial schedule, and physically in quite poor shape after fighting the wind the whole ride and having to deal with a few mechanical issues along the way. Following a five-hour ferry crossing while the clock kept counting, they arrived at Newhaven at 05.00 GMT. Once through boarder control and customs, they started cycling again at 05.17 GMT.

The second leg was considerably shorter but punctuated with a series of steep climbs between Brighton and the outskirts of London. The efforts of the previous day meant the boys really struggled up these hills. Going fast down the penultimate hill, a puncture and the time spent fixing it forced them to abandon the aim of finishing in 24 hours. They rode safely to the finish point of Tower Bridge in the busy London traffic, 24 hours and 44 minutes after they started riding.

On completing the ride Keiran said: “That was the hardest thing I have ever done. My body is destroyed and I’m emotionally drained. However, the pride I have in both of us working together through the challenges we faced, especially through France, is what these sort of adventures are about.”

Adam said: “It is a great feeling to have achieved the challenge and even though it was just over the 24 hours we are both proud to have made the distance. Unfortunately we had a few things against us such as punctures and head wind which meant we were catching up with ourselves a lot whilst helping each other to finish.”

“The speedy rescue that East Anglian Air Ambulance were able to provide has given me the life I have today. This challenge is my way of saying thank you to those who crewed my flight”.

Adam Clarke

The cyclists chose to ride in aid of EAAA as it is a charity that carries particular significance for Adam. In 2018, Adam was involved in a serious car crash on a local rural road in Norfolk, leaving him with life-threatening head injuries. Paramedics recognised the seriousness of Adam’s injuries and called for EAAA. Adam was rushed from the accident site to Addenbrooke’s Hospital where he received the urgent treatment that has allowed him to make a full recovery. Without the speed of the transfer to hospital and the early medical intervention, Adam’s prospects of achieving a full recovery were a lot lower. Adam says “The speedy rescue that East Anglian Air Ambulance were able to provide has given me the life I have today. This challenge is my way of saying thank you to those who crewed my flight”.

Keiran works as a specialist disability driving instructor and, as part of his work, he supports motorists who have had various accidents back onto the road. This includes clients who have been attended by EAAA. Keiran says: “This service is vital for saving lives, and giving those involved in the worst incidents the best chances of recovery and a better quality of life.”

The cost of Adam’s EAAA task at the time was £3,250; this was the initial fundraising target for the ride.

Keiran says: “When we set the target of raising the cost of Adam’s flight we really didn’t think it was realistic, but to have raised such funds shows how much people value the service East Anglian Air Ambulance provides. To raise £3,264 (correct at the time of writing) has just blown us away. To think our efforts and everyone’s generosity has potentially provided the cash to save a life makes me so proud.”

Adam adds: “This has been an awesome thing to do together and a privilege to help raise money for the charity. I am so thankful that East Anglian Air Ambulance was available to help me when I needed it and I hope what we have done will go a small way to helping others.”

Tarryn Stuart, Community Fundraiser at East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) says:

“Huge congratulations to Adam and Keiran for completing their 24-hour cycle challenge from Paris to London. They took on this epic fundraiser to say thank you to the EAAA crew that attended Adam back in 2018. We have been inspired by Adam and Keiran’s determination to help save the lives of others.

“EAAA relies almost entirely on the generosity of people across the region to raise the funds needed to deliver and develop the 24/7 service. This helps to give critically ill or injured people in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk the best chance of surviving and recovering from a life-threatening emergency. A huge thank you to Adam and Keiran for their incredible fundraising efforts, and to everyone who supported them in their challenge.”

Adam says: “We are blown away and truly humbled by the generosity of so many people, we just cannot say thank you enough to every single person and organisation that donated to us and East Anglian Air Ambulance”.

The boys are now taking a well-earned rest after their epic ride but their Just Giving page is still taking donations. To sponsor Adam and Keiran, and support East Anglian Air Ambulance

Visit their Just Giving page