Penny farthing pair head off on Paris charity ride

Matt Richardson and Bill Pollard are cycling from Oxfordshire to Paris

A cycling enthusiast who is recovering from cancer has admitted he is "terrified" as he sets off on a charity ride to Paris on a penny farthing.

Matt Richardson, from Oxfordshire, was diagnosed with tonsil and lymph node cancer in 2022.

Along with his friend Bill Pollard, the pair will leave Henley on Saturday riding a modern version of the Victorian bicycle.

The planned five-day trip, in memory of his Mr Richardson's father who died from the same cancer, will raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The pair have a variety of outfits planned for their journey

The pair have so far raised more than £13,000 for the cause.

Mr Richardson said he was worried about maintaining his stamina for the whole ride.

"If I overdo it I will be useless the next day," said the 57-year-old.

He said he first rode a penny farthing for his 50th birthday, and it "was so much fun".

Following his diagnosis, he said there were a few months where he "didn't know if I would make it through", but he did - and then he returned to the penny farthing.

Mr Richardson said his dad was his inspiration

"I just thought if I'm ever going to own a penny farthing, I have to do it now because you don't know how long you're going to be here," he said.

The reaction in his local area was "so positive and intense", he realised it was a perfect fundraising opportunity - and that was where the idea to cycle to Paris came from.

He said riding the contraption can be challenging, especially when going uphill.

There is only one gear and no brakes, so to slow down you have to "resist the pedals".

Penny farthings only have one gear and no brakes

He said getting on and off was also not easy, and that he also had his health to consider.

But he said his dad would have loved the challenge.

"He would have fallen about laughing, almost in tears... if he was able to, he'd have done it too," he said.

"He's been my inspiration in a lot of ways."