Thankful Mum’s London to Paris Cycle Raises £27,500 For Sick Kids

A thankful mum has joined forces with a team of cyclists to raise over £27,500 for our charity, pedalling almost 250-miles from London to Paris in gratitude for her son’s lifesaving care. 

Vicky Lynch, from Birmingham, inspired the group of kind-hearted cyclists to get into gear on behalf of sick kids, cycling from Bexley Fire Station in London to the Eiffel Tower in Paris on behalf of our hospital and another charity close to their hearts.  

The group decided to support us as their way of showing thanks for the life-saving treatment received by Vicky’s 10-year-old son, Rory. 

Rory was born six weeks premature and diagnosed with Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome, a rare kidney disorder affecting just one in 100,000 children. At only ten days old, he was admitted to our hospital, where he stayed on the hospital’s renal ward as an inpatient until his first birthday.  

Because of the severity and complexity of his condition, Rory needed intensive treatment, eventually having six months of daily peritoneal dialysis at home and then moving to haemodialysis at our hospital four days a week.  

Rory unfortunately suffered frequent infections and was diagnosed with ‘failure to thrive’, also known as growth or weight faltering, and needed intravenous feeding. A kidney transplant became his only chance of survival. 

Vicky and her husband, Jon, were deeply worried about their son, and during this anxious time, our hospital became a home away from home for the whole family. During their darkest moments, they felt the staff were truly there for them. Vicky described the nurses as being like second parents to the seriously ill little boy.  

In January 2019, Rory received the ultimate gift of life when his dad was able to donate a kidney to help his little boy. The impact was immediate and remarkable, and within weeks, Rory began to thrive, growing, developing and eating as he should.  

Now aged 10, Rory is enjoying his childhood to the full. He continues to need daily medication and regularly visits our hospital for appointments, and while these can be challenging due to Rory also being autistic and having learning difficulties, he is currently doing well, enjoying school, jigsaws, games and life at home. 

Vicky is part of a long-distance charity cycling group connected to the Irish community, led by her close friend, Sean McMenamin. Inspired by Vicky’s story, Sean asked Vicky how the group could help the hospital that saved Rory’s life, and the Orlaith ‘The Way to Paris’ challenge was born. 

Cyclists from Ireland and the West Midlands joined forces, mobilising friends, family, local businesses and the local community to support our hospital’ renal ward. Vicky, Sean and the team were overwhelmed by the response, raising over £27,500. 

When race day arrived, it was the biggest challenge yet for the cycling team. With just under 250 miles of cycling and 10,000 feet of elevation, three days of hot weather put the cyclists under real pressure. But the group persevered, supporting each other to push through to the finish line.  

Vicky said: “We’re extremely lucky to have Birmingham Children’s Hospital on our doorstep. Seeing the amount we raised to support it felt really emotional and I was truly honoured knowing just how many kind people wanted to help our cause.  

“I won’t lie, the cycle was extremely tough, especially as I had a couple of injuries, but then you remember your purpose. Although the kids at the hospital are so sick, they’re still resilient. This challenge is for them and for all the staff who care for them.” 

Sean, the event’s chief organiser, said: “The cycle was really tough, but it was an enjoyable challenge with a great team, with everybody motivated and working well together. Birmingham Children’s Hospital is admired all over the world, and it’s a no brainer to support the cause.  

“We’re so grateful to everyone who helped us along the way, especially RM Contractors in Redditch for supplying the support vans to get us on the road.” 

Annie Eytle, Head of Public Fundraising at Birmingham Children’s Hospital Charity, said: “Rory, like so many of our patients, will be cared for by our hospital for all of their childhood, so we’re always so grateful when family and friends, like Vicky, Sean and their amazing cycling team, go the extra mile to raise incredible sums.  

“The money raised will be transformative for our renal patients and their families, supporting world-class care, environments and equipment.”