TYNESIDE Tycoon Graham Wylie’s son has completed his epic mission to cycle from Newcastle to Paris to raise cash for a hospital unit.
Richard Wylie, 23, was profoundly affected when his sister Kiera went through life-saving surgery at just two days old – the first of several operations to correct a complex heart condition.
Her condition had been diagnosed when she was still in her mother Andrea’s womb.
Moments after she was born, in December 2009, she was taken across Newcastle from the Royal Victoria Infirmary for treatment at the Freeman Hospital.
Her parents Graham and Andrea Wylie have dedicated their entrepreneurial skills to raising money and awareness for the Children’s Heart Unit Fund (CHUF), based at the Freeman.
Richard and his friends wanted to be just as involved in raising funds for CHUF, prompting them to set themselves the gruelling challenge of cycling from the Freeman Hospital to Les Champs Elysee in the French capital, in just five days.
Together with friends Tom Walker, Andie Stokoe and Dan Smith, Richard set off from the hospital last Monday morning.
At the weekend – and some 560 miles later – they reached their goal.
Richard said: “We’ve had five very tough days, which has been a massive test for all of us but 50 miles outside of Paris all our aches and pain went and I can vouch for everyone when I say it was thoroughly worth it to raise money for the special equipment and resources needed on the Children’s Heart Unit at the Freeman.”
The four friends, who have known each other since their days at the King’s School in Tynemouth, North Tyneside, spent weeks busy getting in shape for the ride – and Richard said the training has been taking its toll.
“Before we decided to do this, I hadn’t ridden a bike more than 20 miles, so we really were diving in head first. But that’s what we have to do if we want to raise thousands of pounds for our cause, and it’s a fantastic cause.
“It was unbelievably tough when Kiera and Zahra was born and it had a big impact on all of us – it was something that put everything into perspective for me.
“You might have a great lifestyle, but you would give it all up for your family and their health and happiness – they are the most important thing.”
