20260705 Mouldy Goes To Milan – Background,What,Who,Why, Where,How

Folks,

Thank you for visiting the site where we aim to provide regular updates of the challenge Mouldy Goes to Milan

Background:

I’m Paul Muldoon, a proud member of our Global Celtic Family and a lifelong supporter. I am very proud of the incredible work done by Celtic FC Foundation. Cycling has always been a passion of mine, and over the past 18 years, I’ve combined that love with fundraising for causes close to our hearts.

In 2017, I cycled all the way to Lisbon to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lisbon Lions, helping to raise £74,000 – A journey that will stay with me forever.

In 2020, plans were in place for another epic ride from Celtic Park to Milan to mark the 50th anniversary of our team reaching the European Cup Final. Sadly, COVID-19 forced us to cancel that challenge.

Fast forward to 2023: my friends completed a fantastic cycle to Seville, raising an incredible £100,000 for the Foundation. Due to chronic back and nerve pain, I couldn’t join them on the road at the time, but I did my part virtually—replicating the route on my smart trainer at home and contributing to the fundraising effort and the amazing memories

What are we trying to achieve:

I’ll be cycling 1,050 miles and climbing 123,909 feet—virtually—from Glasgow to Milan. It won’t be fast, but I’ll get there. Every pedal stroke will be dedicated to raising much-needed funds for Celtic FC Foundation, whose work in tackling poverty, promoting health, and supporting equality is something I’m deeply proud of.

Who

Celtic FC Foundation – Paradise Recovery Cafe

Celtic FC Foundation is proud to announce that all funds raised through our cycling challenges and fundraising events will be ring-fenced to help sustain and grow the Paradise Recovery Café initiative, Donations can be made here:

The Paradise Recovery Café is a vital programme dedicated to supporting individuals on their journey of recovery from substance abuse, mental health challenges, trauma, and homelessness. Operating on a weekly basis, the café provides a safe and welcoming environment for approximately 30 adults each week, offering:

Peer support and guidance
Pathways into recovery communities
A warm meal and a sense of belonging

This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to creating meaningful change and supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Every mile cycled and every pound donated will directly contribute to sustaining this life-changing programme.

Latest video from the Paradise Recovery Cafe

Donate:

You can support this journey by donating at:

👉h ttps://www.justgiving.com/page/mouldygoestomilan

Alternatively by scanning the QR code below

Your contribution, no matter the amount, will help us continue supporting individuals on their recovery journey and will make a meaningful difference to the work of the Foundation.

Every contribution, big or small, keeps the wheels turning and brings us closer to the goal. I’ll keep posting updates and sharing details of any new ideas and initiatives as the journey goes on, so everyone can follow along and be part of it.

Thank you once again for your kindness and generosity.

Why:

In recent years, chronic back and neck pain slowly became a constant part of my life. It didn’t just affect my body — it chipped away at my confidence and my motivation to take on the kind of endurance challenges I once loved. Gradually, intense exercise faded into the background, and my energy was poured instead into family life, work, and following Celtic.

Back in 2017, around the time of the Lisbon cycle, I was reasonably fit at about 14 stone. But with ongoing health struggles and very limited exercise, things began to slide. Almost without noticing, the weight crept on, and by December I had ballooned to around 300 pounds. With that came frustration, self‑doubt, and the feeling that I was drifting further away from the person I used to recognise.

This challenge is about far more than a bike ride. It’s about drawing a line and taking something back — my health, my confidence, and my sense of purpose. It’s a chance to rebuild both physically and mentally, to prove to myself that setbacks don’t define the ending of the story, and that it’s never too late to start pedalling forward again.

Now, after years of health challenges and progression, it’s time to finish what I started. Mouldy Goes to Milan is officially underway!

Where:

How:

In this blog post, I explain how this will be technically managed and executed—you can read more about it here

Blogs

Along the way, we’ve put together a series of blogs covering the current Mouldy Goes To Milan Journey — you can find them all here.Previous blogs here

Beyond that we enclose details of our Utube channel which captures a number of videos from various charity projects, you can enjoy them here:

Gallery