Event rider Piggy March is preparing for a 1,100km cycle ride later this year in memory of her late sister-in-law Caroline March, who died by assisted suicide in March 2024 after being paralysed in an eventing fall in 2022.

The landmark charity cycle ride was launched today (Monday 19 August) by Piggy and her husband Tom. Their fundraising target is £500,000 and the money will be split between Spinal Research and the British Eventing (BE) Support Trust.

Joining the husband and wife duo will be three-time Olympian Ian Stark OBE, who is Chair of the Board of Trustees for BE Support Trust, as well as event riders Holly Woodhead and Tom How.

Alastair Wilson, husband of former eventing European champion Nicola and patron of the BE Support Trust, will also be cycling, as will Piggy’s sister, Nini French.

Additional stars from the equestrian and sporting world will join for parts of the journey, including members of the British gold medal-winning eventing team in Paris, plus former Olympians, World and European Champions.

‘We’re going to bust our bums’

“We’re going to bust our bums to get up the hills and cycle over 100km for 10 days. It will be grim. We’ll get to the end, because we’re of that mindset, but it’s a massive effort ahead and we’re very aware of that,” said Piggy March.

“We’re looking forward to it and hoping everyone gets together to really make a difference for the future of our sport.

“Earlier this year, I was grieving badly for Caroline. [The] Paris [Olympics] was a focus, but I had no top horse to focus on [for] that and I felt lost. Tom and I were chatting and said that we’d like to do something to raise money for the BE Support Trust and Spinal Research.

“I’ve loved every minute of my eventing, but over the last few years — getting older, realising what’s important, family life, becoming a mother myself — you realise quickly how fine the line is; how much luck is needed to be on the right or wrong side of it and how quickly and easily with horses that an accident can happen.”

Starting from scratch

Tom added that the group of cyclists has no previous experience of cycling.

“It’s been a case of starting from scratch in terms of knowledge, fitness and equipment. The biggest challenge might be the conditions at the end of November,” he said.

“Daylight will be at a premium and we have learnt a few things since we came up with the idea. One, nobody does organised cycle rides in the UK in November and, two, everyone cycles south to north — not north to south like us — so the prevailing wind is behind you and not in your face.”

According to Spinal Research, someone in the UK is paralysed every two hours due to a spinal cord injury.

“Caroline’s life was completely transformed by her spinal injury and she really believed in helping to pursue scientific advances to find a cure for spinal cord injuries,” said Tom.

“Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity focussed on the repair and restoration of the spinal cord, and so was the right fit to try to achieve a positive change in Caroline’s memory.”

From Blair to Badminton and beyond

The ten-day ride will start on November 20 at Blair Castle in Scotland and will take in seven prestigious eventing venues around the UK.

From Blair the group will cycle to Bramham in Yorkshire via Belsay in Northumberland, followed by Chatsworth in Derbyshire, Burghley in Staffordshire, Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire and Badminton in Gloucestershire.

The final leg will see the event riders cycle from Windsor through central London to The Savoy Hotel, where the BE Support Trust Charity Ball will take place on the same evening (Saturday November 30).

When they reach the final destination, the group will have cycled 667 miles during an estimated 48 hours in the saddle.

‘There are hills everywhere’

“Most of the bike riders in this group are used to sitting on a horse for eight hours a day — 10 hours sometimes — but an hour on a bicycle in a different position using completely different muscles has actually been really quite tough,” added Piggy. “There’s been a lot of cramp; it’s very, very uncomfortable.

“I think our mindset and general fitness hopefully won’t be too bad. It’s just conditioning your body and your mind to get up those hills and there are hills everywhere.

“I didn’t realise we were such a hilly country, but every corner you turn you go, ‘oh no’. If you do have a downhill, you’re like yeah this is great but you know you’re going to have to go back up on the other side.”

Turning tragedy into hope

Ian Stark said it is “a privilege” to be involved with Cycle4Caroline.

“I hope I can keep up with the peloton and do everyone proud. The team here at the British Eventing Support Trust, just like everyone connected with eventing, was devastated to hear of Caroline’s passing, but it’s typical of the March family that out of such tragedy comes the burning desire to help other people.

“Here’s hoping we can raise lots of money for the British Eventing Support Trust and Spinal Research. We need everyone’s help to ensure we smash [the £500,000] target.”

Spinal Research is the UK’s leading charity funding medical research to develop life-changing treatments for the millions of people around the world living with a spinal cord injury.

The charity’s Chair, Tara Stewart, who was at the launch, commented:

“All of us at Spinal Research were deeply saddened by the news of Caroline’s death and are honoured and delighted to be part of the Cycle4Caroline challenge, which will support both our work and that of the British Eventing Support Trust, creating a legacy of hope in her memory.”

How to donate

Find out more about Cycle4Caroline and donate here.