Our staff and children were thrilled to greet a very special nurse who is cycling around all 54 UK children’s hospices in just 70 days.

Francesca Lennon, 35, a paediatric nurse from Buckinghamshire was given a warm welcome at both Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith hospices as she wheeled in on the tenth day of her 3,200 mile journey.

Francesca worked for 10 years inside the NHS before moving to work in children’s hospices and saw first-hand what the children and families go through.

This eventually led her to found the charity Children’s Hospices Across The UK (ChatUK) to help educate people on the importance of hospices to seriously ill children and their families.

On arriving at Tŷ Gobaith hospice, Francesca said: “It’s been a good start to my challenge but I’ve had mixed fortunes with the weather.

“Hope House and Tŷ Gobaith are both such wonderful hospices and are situated in beautiful parts of the country.

“The staff here are making such a difference to seriously ill children and their families.”

Francesca (Left) with children and care staff from Hope House on Tuesday

Successful journey

Our Head of Care, Angharad Davies said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Francesca to our hospice and cheer her in as she arrived.

“She is very brave taking on this challenge and is doing a brilliant job in raising awareness of the vital work that children’s hospices across the UK carry out every single day.

“From all the children and staff here, we wish her a safe and successful onward journey.”

All funds raised from her cycle challenge will go to children's palliative care charity Together for Short Lives who support children’s hospices across the UK.

Sponsor Francesca here

Francesca and step father Tony Harris are greeted by children and staff on Wednesday at Ty Gobaith

Our fundraiser Cat said: "It was wonderful to welcome Francesca to Hope House after a long day cycling and to be able to show her how money raised for us is turned into care for seriously ill local children.

"We wish her luck for the rest of her ride across the UK."

Francesca, who began her epic journey on 20^th June to mark the start of Children’s Hospice Week (20-26 June) is also cycling in memory of her close friend's son, Henry, who passed away earlier this year of acute myeloid leukaemia aged nine.

In tribute to Henry she has even named her bicycle after him.

She will be cycling through areas including Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Cambridge, Sheffield, Belfast and Scotland and aims to do 46 miles per day and finish on 28^th August.