Dover to Istanbul. By bike. Pedalling through Polymyalgia. And she did it!
We are absolutely thrilled to welcome home our wonderful Trustee Mandy Chapman, who, alongside her husband, Mark, has successfully completed her epic cycle ride from Dover all the way to Istanbul.
When Mandy set off, we knew this was an extraordinary challenge. Having been diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR), she decided to turn her own experience of the condition into something positive – raising awareness and funds for Polymyalgia charities while also supporting our campaign to build Hadlow Down’s new Community Centre.
What followed was quite an adventure.
There were major mechanical problems with the bike, difficult border crossings and some truly punishing cycling conditions – from riding through a heatwave to battling torrential rain. There were difficult days, unexpected obstacles and plenty of moments when sheer determination was called for.
But Mandy kept pedalling.
All the way to Istanbul.
We are enormously impressed by what she has achieved and incredibly grateful that she chose to make Hadlow Down Community Centre one of the beneficiaries of this remarkable journey.
And the fundraising has been fantastic too.
So far Mandy has raised an amazing £1,178, with the proceeds being shared equally between her two chosen causes. That means £589 will be coming to HDCC, helping us move another step closer to delivering the new Village Hall and Community Centre for Hadlow Down.
A huge thank you to everyone who has donated, shared Mandy’s story and cheered her on along the way. Every donation has helped make those hard-won miles count.
There’s still time to donate!
The bike may have made it back home, but the fundraising isn’t over yet. If you’ve been following Mandy’s adventure and haven’t yet donated, there is still time to show your appreciation for this quite extraordinary achievement.
Please head to Mandy’s fundraising page here to make a donation:
And if you’d like to discover what it really takes to cycle from Dover to Istanbul, take a look at Mandy’s Instagram account, where you can read her diary of this epic adventure – the highs, the lows, the weather, the mechanical dramas, the border crossings and everything in between. Tandem Bike Touring
From everyone at HDCC, thank you Mandy – and huge congratulations.
We were proud of you when you set off. We’re even more in awe of you now.Dover to Istanbul. What an achievement. 🚴👏