A remarkable team of 30 cyclists from across Merseyside has successfully completed a grueling 70-mile bike ride, traveling from Blackpool Tower to Liverpool's Liver Building. The pedal-powered squad took on the challenge to support a cause close to many hearts, raising an impressive £115,000—and still counting—for Alzheimer's Research UK.
Braveheart Cycle
The Braveheart Cycle, founded by Paula Muldoon in memory of her father Michael, saw riders cycle from Blackpool through the Lancashire countryside and coastal roads. The route passed through Preston, Southport, Formby, Crosby, and along the Liverpool-Leeds Canal before finishing at the iconic Liver Building. The event has now raised more than £115,000 for Alzheimer's Research UK, the UK's leading dementia research charity.
Paula, a former Brookside actress, has supported Alzheimer's Research UK for over a decade. She was appointed an Alzheimer's Research UK Champion in 2014 and has used her Braveheart events to raise vital funds and awareness for dementia research.
Paula's Emotional Journey
Paula said: "Completing this year's Braveheart Cycle and seeing our fundraising total pass £115,000 has been incredibly emotional. I started this in memory of my dad, Michael, after watching him live with frontotemporal dementia, and I know how heartbreaking this disease is for families. This event has never been about trained athletes. It's about ordinary people coming together because they care. Every cyclist, every donor, and every supporter has helped us do something meaningful in the fight against dementia. I'm so proud of the Braveheart team and so grateful to everyone who has supported us."
Since launching the Braveheart Cycle, Paula has brought together a community of cyclists of mixed abilities from around Merseyside, encouraging new riders to take part and creating an inclusive, supportive fundraising event.
Supporting Dementia Research
Money raised will support Alzheimer's Research UK's work to make life-changing breakthroughs in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of dementia. Simon McDermott, regional fundraising officer for Alzheimer's Research UK in the North West, said: "Paula's dedication to Alzheimer's Research UK is truly exceptional. For more than a decade, she has turned the heartbreak of losing her dad Michael into hope for other families affected by dementia. To pass £115,000 is an extraordinary achievement and a testament not only to Paula's determination but to the incredible Braveheart community she has built. We are hugely grateful to Paula and every single rider, donor, and supporter who has helped fund vital dementia research. One in two people will be directly affected by dementia in their lifetime, either by developing the condition themselves, caring for someone with it, or both. It is thanks to supporters like Paula and the Braveheart team that we can keep driving forward research towards new treatments, preventions, and one day, a cure."
You can support the Braveheart team's fundraising at their JustGiving page.
