Paul and Vinny Saddle Up For Sick Kids In Paris To London Cycle

A grateful grandad and his best biking buddy raised over £4,570 for us after cycling the 248-mile journey from Paris to London.

Sixty-year-old Paul Wallbank, from Walsall, saddled up with his friend Vinny Safe, 58 from Tipton, to ride the distance to thank our hospital for the care his 15-year-old grandson, has received there for most of his life.

AJ was three when he was diagnosed with a progressive condition called Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which causes damage to the peripheral nerves found outside the central nervous system, which among other symptoms can cause muscle wasting and weakness.

To begin with, AJ’s condition only affected his eyes but over time it has progressed to affect his legs and feet, and now his hands. Since his diagnosis, AJ has had multiple operations at our hospital and has been provided with splints, which have enabled him to keep walking and keep moving, although for long distances he does use a wheelchair.

Forever grateful for AJ’s ongoing care, keen cyclist Paul enlisted his old friend and work colleague, Vinny, to take on the challenge of a life-time – the Paris to London cycle. No stranger to a long-distance charity challenge, Vinny accepted and together they began fundraising. The pair caught the train out to Paris and then began their long journey home, updating their friends, family and colleagues at the AA, with their progress along the way.

Paul and Vinny decided to take it steady and enjoy the scenery and just four days after their ride began, they had made it across the finish line at Buckingham Palace and were overjoyed to see their fundraising total had leapt into quadruple figures.

Paul said: “Without the care AJ has received and continues to receive at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, our lives would be very different. Thanks to the hospital, AJ is still able to walk, he’s in a mainstream school and he’s even able to keep active and enjoy playing wheelchair basketball with the Bears team at North Solihull Sports Centre.

“I wanted to do something to give back for AJ’s care and I’m grateful to Vinny for coming along for the ride too. It means a lot that we were able to raise so much to say thank you for everything.”

Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “It’s so humbling when we hear the impact our hospital has on families, and it warms our hearts when those experiences lead our families to fundraise for us, to help others.

“Paul and Vinny’s wonderful fundraising will go on to help us continue supporting brave patients, just like AJ.”