Speaking to OT about the decision to take on the challenge, Anand said: \u201cI thought it would be something different and interesting to do. I’m not a cyclist so I thought this was something I wasn\u2019t going to be able to do without putting in the training and that was important to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
On seeing that it was possible to raise money for Moorfields Eye Charity through the excursion, the decision was sealed and Anand signed up alongside eight friends. <\/p>\n
The group of approximately 45 cyclists set off from Blackheath Common on 10th June to reach Dover by 4pm to catch the ferry. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe covered 85 miles, cycling the equivalent of climbing Ben Nevis with 5000 feet of elevation that day,\u201d Anand shared. <\/p>\n
This was made more challenging as rain set in during the afternoon and lasted through the journey to Dover. <\/p>\n
The second day saw cyclists travel 71 miles from Calais to Abbeville with another elevation equivalent to a climb of the Scottish mountain. <\/p>\n
Anand reflected: \u201cDay two was consistent rain and 25 mile per hour winds for pretty much the whole day.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the third day, cyclists left Abbeville and journeyed for 65 miles to Beauvais, climbing the equivalent elevation of a hike of Snowdon. <\/p>\n
The final day saw the cyclists travel the final 50 miles to Paris, first stopping in Parc Monceau where the group gathered and cheered for each arriving member of the challenge. <\/p>\n
Once gathered, the group rode as a peloton through the city, to the Arc de Triomphe, and ending at the Eiffel Tower, in what Anand describes as \u201cwhat was by then glorious sunshine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Along the journey, Anand reflected: \u201cOne of the leads reminded us that we were all doing this for charity and that there are so many people supported by the charities who, for various reasons, would not be in a position to carry out this journey, and that putting ourselves through this in order to support them was something really powerful.\u201d<\/p>\n
He reflected: \u201cI did feel that \u2013 we work with a lot of patients with eye conditions, some very visually impaired patients, and they have struggles day-in, day-out they have to manage, face, and do remarkably with.\u201d<\/p>\n
The community-spirit of the cyclists was also an encouragement along the journey. <\/p>\n
Anand shared: \u201cEvery single individual, no matter how experienced they were, or how old or young they were, was looking out for each other. If you had stopped for any reason, someone would stop and check on you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a very collaborative group,\u201d he shared. <\/p>\n
An added benefit of the experience was being able to completely disconnect, Anand shared: \u201cYou can\u2019t check your emails.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you are out there for such a long period of time, it does give you time to think, and you are quite peaceful,\u201d he told OT, adding wryly: \u201cSome of the time \u2013 when it\u2019s not raining and windy,\u201d <\/p>\n
Having completed the challenge, Anand said: \u201cI was really in awe of the amount of support I received from numerous people \u2013 134 individuals sponsored me. The fact people had the faith in me meant a lot to be able to then carry it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Will Anand continue to cycle? <\/p>\n
He told OT: \u201cThe group of friends I completed it with met up on a Saturday morning at 7 o\u2019clock, which doesn\u2019t sound like a very pleasant thing to do, but considering we started in February when it was zero degrees through to May when it was 18 degrees, it was very pleasant. We\u2019ve all said we\u2019ll continue to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Vijay’s cycling challenge in pictures
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![\"Vijay,](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/vijay-cycling-resized.jpg\")
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Vijay Anand<\/p>\n
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\u276f<\/a><\/p>\n \u00d7<\/p>\n Vijay Anand<\/p>\n 3 \/ 3 <\/p>\n![\"Vijay](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/vijay-paris-2-resized.jpg\")
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