TWO cyclists finished a cross-continent trip at a hospice on first anniversary of the death of Stephanie Pratt, who was cared for by it.
Jason St Hill, 58, of Grove Gardens, Tring, rode with Danny Ackerman, 55, from Radlett, for the full 1,250-mile trip from The Basilica of St Francis in Assisi, Italy, to The Hospice of St Francis in Northchurch.
Jason said: “It was fantastic – a wonderful trip with brilliant countryside, and we had unbelievable weather the whole time, with not one drop of rain or one puncture.
“But you can notice the difference in the roads when you get back to England, with the constant vibrating and potholes. The roads are more like billiard tables in France.”
They cycled in memory of ex-Tring School pupil Stephanie, who died aged 30 on June 24, 2011, and raised £14,000 for the hospice.
Her mum Angela, 55, who is Jason’s partner, said: “We felt the biggest tribute to Steph was to raise some funds for the hospice, as we went to enable other families to benefit from the care that she had and we all had at the hospice.”
Earlier this month, Frank O’Keeffe, master of the Berkhamsted Lodge of Masons, cycled between Northchurch and Berkhamsted 20 times, riding 60 miles for his 60th birthday to raise £400 for the Rainbow Trust Children’s Charity.
Also, Alistair Eld, 26, teaching assistant for Haresfoot School, Berkhamsted, cycled from London to Brighton to raise £250 for the British Heart Foundation on Sunday, June 17.l
> The Hospice of St Francis Midnight Walk will begin from Hemel Hempstead School on Saturday. Sign up at www.stfrancis.org.uk for £15.