Pedal power to Paris

In completing the 300 mile trip, Corina McIntosh, who is from Lincoln Courts, not only overcame the French mountains - infamous for testing even the hardiest of cyclists - but also the scepticism of her boyfriend and parents.

“I was never really into cycling. My boyfriend and I got into the ride to work scheme, cycling to work instead of driving and it started from there,” said Corina.

She and her partner David originally had planned to go travelling during the summer, but when their plans fell through Corina signed up for the cycle because it was ‘something to do’ instead of getting down about her defunked travel plans.

Her boyfriend and parents teased her about her decision, and even laughed at her decision, but she proved them wrong spurred on by their teasing - and raised £1,300 for Foyle Hospice in the process.

Joining ghe other cyclists, they departed Crystal Palace two Wednesdays ago and arrived in Paris last Saturday.

“Wednesday was the hardest day of the four, we had to get to ferry at 4.45pm which meant a 95-mile route in 10 hours. It was really lashing down, I was completely drenched in the rain. Standing soaked, shivering trying to eat a chicken wrap while pouring water puddles out of my shoes, I just wanted to go home at that stage,” she recalled.

They arrived in Paris at 4.30pm.

“It was brilliant, we all stopped outside Paris and cycled the last two miles to the Eiffel Tower together.

“Everyone was cheering us on, car horns were pumping as we finished, which was great. The traffic was basically stopped for the 138 people who did it. I was the only person doing it to raise funds for the Hospice and the only Derry girl too,” she said.

Corina, who now lives and works in Belfast, decided to raise money for Foyle Hospice because and aunt and two of her grandfathers and a grandmother were all residents at the Hospice.

“It is a great charity and means something to everyone in the town,” she said.

Vowing to kepp up with her cycling Corina revealed that she had lost several pounds in weight despite being able to eat what she wanted.

Anyone who wishes to donate money to Foyle Hospice through Corina can do so by logging on to www.justgiving.com/corina-mcintosh