Nick Taplin, CEO, Shezan Aslam, director and Julian Hook, brand director of Black and White Hospitality, took on challenging 500km ride from London to Paris from 19th – 23rd May.

The trio set off from Royal Observatory in Greenwich Park on 19th May alongside 160 riders, pedalling their way through Kent towards Folkestone. After a short trip through the Eurotunnel, the organised bike ride took them through classic countryside in the Pas de Calais and Somme regions of Northern France, before riding into Paris on 23rd May against a backdrop of famous sights including the Arc de Triomphe and Eiffel Tower.

Accompanied by other members of the Black and White Hospitality team, including Jason Eaton, Caroline Wilce, Jack Eglington, Richard Fifield and Owen Hollingdale, the team reached its combined fundraising total of £20,000, all of which will go towards Cure Leukaemia’s life-saving research.

Julian Hook, who was previously general manager at Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill Birmingham last year, said: “London to Paris has been by far the most challenging experience of my life, but is undoubtedly something neither myself, nor the rest of the team, will ever forget.

“We’ve been able to see first-hand how our fundraising will support the fantastic work of Cure Leukaemia, and we’re delighted to have reached our fundraising target of £20,000! This truly is an incredible event, and we’re delighted to announce that we have already begun conversations to take part again in 2017.”

Nick Taplin, CEO of Black and White Hospitality, added: “This is by far the hardest thing that I have ever done, but by far the most rewarding and for such a good and worthy cause.”

Cure Leukaemia funds a network of research nurses to help save lives of leukaemia patients. It also part funds the World Class Centre of Excellence for Clinical Haematology at the QE Hospital in Birmingham, offering new life saving drugs & treatments to blood cancer patients.