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Elaine Cornett has completed an incredible 930-Mile Bordeaux to Newry Cycle in Memory of her late father Sam Cornett, raising £15,000 to date for Southern Area Hospice in the process. Donations are still open if you wish to support this amazing journey.
The solo, unsupported 930 mile (1500km) cycle from her home in Bordeaux, France, to the Southern Area Hospice in Newry, Co. Down was completed last weekend.
Elaine undertook the three-week journey in memory of her late father who passed away under the care of the Hospice in January 2022. Her mission was deeply personal — a heartfelt tribute to the compassion and dignity shown to her father during his final days. Reflecting on the emotional and physical journey, Elaine shared: “Reaching Newry felt fantastic. There were tough moments out on the road, but I kept thinking of my dad and the incredible care he received. I wanted to give something back, and knowing this money will help other families going through what we did means everything. I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved — and so thankful to everyone who donated or cheered me on along the way.”
Elaine’s journey — completed entirely on a mechanical bike and without external support — stands as a powerful tribute to her father and a remarkable act of generosity toward Southern Area Hospice.
Sarah O’Hare from the Hospice praised Elaine’s efforts: “We are so delighted that Elaine was able to reach the Hospice safely after such a long journey alone — it is an incredible achievement. The money she has raised will make a real difference to the patients and families we support every day.”
Donations Still Open
Donations in support of Elaine’s challenge are still being accepted through her official fundraising page. To donate, visit: www.justgiving.com
Every donation, no matter the size, helps the hospice deliver expert care, comfort, and dignity to those who need it most.
Southern Area Hospice provides wrap-around support for patients' physical, emotional, and social needs, and will also support their families through this process. The hospice ensures that care is centred around the individual’s wishes and needs, supporting them from the point of diagnosis and helping them to live well with their condition. It provides this support through an inpatient unit, community services and bereavement support services.
This year, it will cost around £6 million to run Southern Area Hospice and provide the highest standard of specialist palliative care to local people living with complex, life-limiting conditions. Of that, we must raise £4 million, 65% of our total income, through fundraising alone. That’s the equivalent of £335,000 each month, £77,000 each week, £11,000 every day or £460 every hour.
