to fly home early and mum cycling into
a post, the challenge was tough and
included a 92-mile cycle in one day.
Julie added: “Charlie was really spurred
on the first difficult day by the message
from Sir Hoy and also knowing that
children the world over are dying of
starvation yet our challenge would be
over in a month.”
However, the friendliness of the people
was another wonderful incentive
with people letting t hem camp in
their gardens, giving up their beds,
allowing them to stay in their garages
and printing leaflets so others would
understand what they were doing.
Julie said: “One family, unbeknown to
us until the morning gave us their beds
after learning of the charity and our
mission – such beautiful acts. We met
one girl in the morning and we told her
what we were doing. She went home
and shared our mission after checking
it out on the internet and later her and
her father came looking for us at about
8pm that night when we were looking for
somewhere safe to pitch our tents. They
took us back to their home, gave us a
barbecue with their lovely family and a
warm, cozy bedroom followed by a great
breakfast the next morning before we
set off again. The generosity of people
amazed all of us.”
Charlie will continue to raise money
for the charity and the £3,000 raised
through this summer’s trip to Poland
means Charlie’s lifetime total has
reached a staggering £45,000.
and they should, in theory, be sad because they have so little
but they’re so happy and I love the message of hope that
Mary’s Meals gives these children
Julie said: “The cycle to Poland was
a massive achievement especially for
Charlie as he had been quite poorly for
some time during the spring and only
finished his last dose of tablets the day
before we set off. It really was a case
of listening to our bodies and doing
what we could. Charlie’s uncle Bunny
has metal plates in his legs from a
motorcycle accident ten years ago and
the hills in Germany proved too much.
“Just recently when Charlie was talking
to some young people about his charity
challenges, I heard him say ‘I don’t do
the difficult ones to impress people but
to get their attention and to impress
upon them how simple it is to take away
the hunger pains of a child that did not
choose to be born into such poverty.
“Charlie and Ania stayed up front the
whole way and I think Charlie’s biggest
achievement was being the only one to
cycle up Oppach Mountain but overall
he did very well to cycle 1,250 miles with
three females – he deserves a medal
for that one! Both the teenagers were
brilliant and a real inspiration to me
when the tough got going.
Anyone wishing to donate to Charlie’s
ongoing charity efforts, should visit
www.justgiving.com/charliedoherty
By Neil Sorrell
Sir Chris Hoy sent Charlie a good
luck message which he stuck to his
handlebars, it was this, Charlie said,
kept him going. There were a few injuries
along the way with uncle Bunny having
87