A WOMAN who was inspired by Parkinson’s sufferers to take part in a 300 mile cycle has raised over £1,800 for charity.

Samantha Hopps said when she met people coping with the disease while also fundraising she felt inspired to sign up for a challenge herself.

The 21-year-old from Fairlop Road, Leytonstone, cycled from Blackheath Common near Lewisham to Paris over four days.

She said: “I thought if someone suffering from Parkinson’s can cycle 300 miles to Paris I can also do it.

“It was really fantastic. My mum was waiting under the Eiffel Tower for me and there were lots of families out cheering us on.

“I am not normally an emotional person but I had a little cry when we arrived because I realised I had just cycled 300 miles.

“All the cyclists were so supportive and if someone was having a rough day they would help them and we did lots of singing.”

Ms Hopps, who works as a digital content editor at Parkinson’s UK head office in Victoria, was accompanied by about 40 other cyclists raising cash for Parkinson’s UK and the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

She said the journey went smoothly apart from one setback on the way to the ferry in Dover.

She said: “There were signs put up telling us where to go and because people started taking them down, some of us ended up taking the wrong route.

“It was annoying more than anything but we were in time for the ferry.

“The scenery we saw was amazing when we cycled through the countryside.”

She spent months training for the journey by cycling 10 miles to work twice a day and ended up surpassing her target of £1,500.

Although she will now allow herself the luxury of getting the tube to work, she has set her sights on more challenges in the near future.

She said: “There were four people with Parkinson’s cycling with us and a lot of others who had mums or dads with Parkinson’s and it is very inspirational.

“I am going to allow myself a little break now but I am thinking of doing another cycle next year.

“There was great camaraderie in the group and it was an amazing experience.”