Two friends from Rugby are preparing to cycle 250 miles from London to Paris to raise funds for a disability charity close to their hearts.

Iris Williams and Esmae Pinnock, both 12, are taking on their gruelling ride from Monday, June 29, in honour of Iris’s big sister, Mia, 19, who has cerebral palsy and is blind.

They aim to cover the route in just five days and raise thousands of pounds for Sense, which has supported Mia since she was aged three.

And soon after the determined duo arrive in Paris, Mia, who has monthly home sessions with a Sense specialist, will be able to participate in a cycling challenge of her own. ‘Tour De Sense’, a fully-inclusive three-week cycling event, will launch from Saturday, July 4.

Iris Williams and Esmae Pinnock are raising funds for disability charity Sense - in honour of Iris’ big sister Mia, who will be taking on her own inclusive cycling challenge. Picture: Family handout/Sense.]

placeholder image — Iris Williams and Esmae Pinnock are raising funds for disability charity Sense - in honour of Iris’ big sister Mia, who will be taking on her own inclusive cycling challenge. Picture: Family handout/Sense.]

Iris and Esmae’s ride will begin at the London Eye. From there, they will cycle to Newhaven, catch a ferry to Dieppe and pedal on through northern France to Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Iris’s mum, primary teacher Fran Condry, 43, will ride alongside the girls while Iris’s grandad, retired bishop Ed Condry, 73, who has twice cycled from London to Paris to fundraise for Sense, will follow by car as their support driver and puncture mender.

Tina Downie, 57, an experienced cyclist and family friend, will also join the cycling group.

Then Tour De Sense will encourage all disabled people with complex needs, their families, supporters and wider communities to get on a bike, gym bike or use hand and foot pedals, and notch up communal miles.

Iris said: “Even though I love going on my bike, I’ve not done any really long cycle rides before – nothing further than 20 miles.

“When we go from London to Paris, we’ll need to do about 50 miles a day to get there in five days. It’s really good to be doing this with Esmae because we will keep each other company on the road and she’s very motivating.”

Esmae said: “I’m really excited that it’s actually going to happen now. Our families are close and I see how Sense supports Mia so I’m very happy we’re fundraising for the charity. My friends think it’s really good we’re doing this - and they also think we’re crazy.

“We’ve been training hard, strength training in the gym every Monday and going for 50 to 60 mile cycle rides on the weekend. On top of that, I play for two football teams and do athletics, so I feel fit and ready.”

Louis Wickett-Padgham, Deputy Head of Sense Active, said: “We’re also really pleased that Iris’s big sister, Mia, and the whole Sense community will be able to take part in our own cycling challenge, Tour De Sense. We’re aiming to get as many disabled people and their supporters as possible to take part in this event and it will be accessible for everyone.

“We hope Tour De Sense will clock up even more cycling miles in total than Iris and Esme do - even though it will take lots of us to beat them! It’s going to be a huge cycling summer for Sense and we can’t wait to get started.”

To sponsor Iris and Esmae, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/toparis for more on Sense visit: sense.org.uk/tour-de-sense