Pulis signs daughter for bike ride

Friday 13th April 2012

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis will be joined on a biking challenge from John O'Groats to Land's End by his daughter Stephanie.

Pulis has signed up 24-year-old Stephanie, a professional dancer and Pilates teacher, to join him on the 960-mile non-stop cycle relay.

They are now in training for On Yer Bike 2012, which aims to raise £100,000 in aid of The Donna Louise Children's Hospice in Stoke-on-Trent.

Father and daughter are training around Stoke-on-Trent, and cycling near the family home in Bournemouth.

Pulis said: "It's great that Stephanie is joining me out on the road, but she won't be getting an easy ride. I think it'll be a very close race to the finish. We actually make a great team as we are absolutely determined to crack the challenge and raise as much money as we can for the hospice."

Stephanie said: "I was inspired to do something for the charity after my dad completed a trek to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro for the hospice a couple of years ago. Cycling was really just a hobby, but when I found out dad was doing the bike ride he asked me to come along.

"It will be a real battle between us as we are so competitive and determined to complete the four-day challenge. I'm already out training with dad and we are now covering about 30 miles a day.

"We have never done anything like this before and, although we are both physically fit, we are both a little saddle sore. It's going to be a tough ride, but it is nothing compared to the challenges the parents and children at the hospice face every day and they are my motivation to keep going."

Celebrity Stoke supporter Nick Hancock is also signed up for the ride which starts on May 29 and is due to finish on June 1.

The Donna Louise Children's Hospice cares for more than 180 children and their families in Staffordshire and south Cheshire. It provides free care and support and relies on donations to help pay its running costs of £2.4 million a year.

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