Mike Allen and Darryl Galbraith – better known as ‘Team Too Many Bears’ – are gearing up once again to take on Children’s Hospice South West’s (CHSW) 3 day cycling event, Ride for Precious Lives (RFPL).
The 205-mile cycle event is taking place 11 to 13 July 2025 and will see 120 cyclists pedal from Little Harbour hospice in St Austell, to Charlton Farm hospice in North Somerset, via Little Bridge Hospice in Barnstaple.
Though both have long enjoyed recreational cycling, everything changed in 2017 when they first signed up for Ride for Precious Lives. Since then, their bikes have taken on a deeper meaning.
Mike and Darryl have now collectively raised over £52,000 since 2017.
Mike tells us how now they both now have a purpose to their cycling.
“I received a text by a member of staff at CHSW who I knew from a charity boxing match asking if I fancied taking part in this ‘little’ cycle ride. From there, I attended an open day at Charlton Farm - this was the turning point for me. From that moment I was hooked."
I could see for my own eyes the love, passion, care and joy that this wonderful place gives the children, siblings and their families.
The pair have been clocking up their training miles while raising vital funds for their local children’s hospice, Charlton Farm by completing a monthly Turbo collection at local supermarkets and other locations across Bristol. Their more recent day of fundraising at Bristol Temple Meads Train Station, saw the duo have their best collection day on record, raising over £2,000 in just 13 hours, taking their total fundraising for this year to over £9,000 for CHSW.
Mike added:
“I have always said, as long as I have air in my lungs and my legs are still going, I will do as much cycling as I can for the hospice.
Their dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Kiley Pearce, Events Fundraiser for CHSW added: “Mike and Daryl’s annual commitment has firmly placed them at the heart of the RFPL family and set a precedent of what being a participant in this event means. Their on-going dedication to raising above their £1,250 sponsorship is inspiring, giving up their own precious time to raise as much as possible towards the £14 million it costs to run our 3 hospices that currently supports more than 500 babies, children and young people with life-limiting conditions. If you do see these pair of incredible riders at a local supermarket dressed as bears on their bike, please support them or you can donate to their Just Giving page.