Could you be district nurse Claire’s Palace to Palace pedal partner?

“I wouldn’t want anyone to think they can’t do it, because they can.”

Those are the encouraging and reassuring words of Claire O’Reilly who’s signed up to ride in the St Christopher’s Palace to Palace cycle ride (from Crystal Palace to the Palace of Versailles just outside Paris), in September 2025 having hugely enjoyed the 2019 ride to Amsterdam.

“I am really looking forward to the challenge,” says Claire. “There’s no point in doing it unless it’s a challenge, but it’s a challenge anyone can do. There were two women who cycled to Amsterdam with us who were definitely not regular cyclists and in fact didn’t even own their own bikes. It’s just about mind over matter and you have to remember it’s not a race.”

Despite riding reasonably regularly in Kent with her family, Claire doesn’t regard herself as a ‘keen cyclist’ and was apprehensive when she signed up for the 2019 ride knowing no one and being unsure of her own capabilities.

“I walked into the first meeting knowing no one but almost immediately they put me at my ease”

“From the start there was brilliant support. We got into training groups with people of similar ability had a WhatsApp group to keep in touch and on the ride itself on one was ever on their own. The support team were always on hand with all the food and drink we needed or ready to fix a puncture if that was required.”

As a sociable person, Claire said she enjoyed the feeling of camaraderie and went on to make many friends on the ride.

It’s camaraderie with neighbours and work colleagues that provides Claire with her motivation for all the miles of training and uphill battles.

“I support a lot of people at the end of life in the community alongside nurses from St Christopher’s,” Claire, who has worked as a District Nurse in Bromley for 25 years adds. “We couldn’t manage to keep people at home at the end of life where they want to be without each other’s support.

“I’ve also had a number of personal connections. Three neighbours in my small cul-de-sac have died under St Christopher’s care in the past year. I could see just how good the care was for them and their families.”

Claire will start training in earnest in March and plans to complete the London to Brighton ride in June as part of the process of getting plenty of miles into her legs.

In fact, she’s grateful her legs are in full working order. Claire had secured a place to run this year’s London Marathon for St Christopher’s when she suffered serious injuries in a fall that needed two operations and kept her off work for four months.

“I had to give up my place, but I think things happen for a reason and something was telling me that I should be doing the cycle ride instead. Although, I am not looking forward to training in the cold and wet as I’m a bit of a fair-weather cyclist!”

Something Claire has no qualms about is reaching her fundraising target. With five siblings, two adult children and a wide circle of friends and colleagues she’s confident she can raise £2,800.

“I don’t think I’ve ever come across anyone in this area that has not known someone who has received care and support from St Christopher’s and they’re very happy to support it.”