Hospice nurse set to cycle from South London to France for charity

A St Christopher’s nurse plans to cycle more than 280 miles from Crystal Palace to France in an epic fundraiser for the hospice.

Chris Mangar, 43, from Bexley, is a palliative care nurse and clinical team lead at St Christopher’s hospice in Lawrie Park Road, Sydenham, where he has worked for 11 years.

Along with a team of supporters, volunteers and staff, he will set off from the hospice on September 10, and cycle for four days to reach the finish line at the Palace of Versailles, near Paris.

The palace to palace fundraiser aims to raise £200,000 for St Christopher’s hospices.

Mr Mangar said: “In 11 years of working as a nurse, this year has been one of the trickiest in terms of funding for hospices across the country.”

Last year, hospices across the UK were forced to cut services and jobs following spiralling costs and a rise in demand. 

Government intervention before Christmas saw a welcome £100million funding boost for hospices.

The investment will go towards helping hospices improve their buildings, equipment and accommodation. This includes refurbishing bedrooms and bathrooms and providing overnight accommodation for families.

But St Christopher’s, alongside hospice membership body Hospice UK, continue to call for a long-term funding solution.

Mr Mangar said: “Every day I see the difference the team at St Christopher’s make across South London in delivering world class palliative and end of life care to the people who need it, and supporting their loved ones too.

“Please join me in taking on this challenge and help me raise vital funds for the hospice so we can continue to be there for the people of South London.”

Mr Mangar has already kicked off his fundraising efforts with a bake sale at the hospice’s Orpington site.

The charity aims to recruit around 50 riders for the challenge which will take in the picturesque countryside of Surrey and east and west Sussex, as well as the small villages and medieval market towns of northern France, before finishing at the famous Palace of Versailles.

Those interested in signing up are invited to an event information evening, taking place on January 23 and 30 at the hospice.

The final registration deadline is Monday 10 March 2025.

Tom Abbott, director of income generation and communications at St Christopher’s, said: “This promises to be the trip of a lifetime and I can’t think of a better way to start a new year than signing up to ride alongside nurses like Chris.

“Creative fundraising challenges like these are so crucial to us delivering high quality care to both those who are at the end of life and their loved ones, so please do sign up and support us.”

Find out more or sign up on St Christopher’s website here or by visiting https://bit.ly/StChristophersBikeRide.

Pictured top: Chris Mangar is urging other keen cyclists to join him on his epic fundraiser (Picture: St Christopher’s hospice)