Father-Daughter Duo's Epic Race Across the World Adventure Ends in Second Place!

Andrew Clifford and his daughter Molly, from Maghera in County Londonderry, took part in the BBC show Race Across the World. This popular TV show challenges teams to travel across Europe and Asia without flying, using smartphones, or credit cards. Instead, they have to rely on a limited budget, work local jobs, and depend on the kindness of strangers to reach checkpoints and try to win a cash prize. Andrew and Molly started their journey in Palermo, Sicily, and their first checkpoint was in Fiskardo, a village on the Greek island of Kefalonia.

The journey was long and difficult, covering 7,500 miles. Andrew and Molly described it as an 'absolutely amazing experience. ' In the final part of the race, they were given directions that sent them the wrong way, which cost them the win. Despite this, they finished in second place and were proud of their achievement. Molly said the last leg was especially hard, but she was grateful to have her dad with her. She explained that when she felt down, her dad helped her keep going. They ended the race happy and proud of what they had accomplished.

After the show ended, Andrew faced a new challenge. He developed Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder that left him partially paralyzed. He spent weeks in the hospital, and his family had to help him with everyday tasks. Molly said it was tough to see her dad go from such a high point to being so ill, but she was thankful he recovered. Andrew said the experience of the race and his illness taught him that life has both highs and lows. Watching the final episode with their friends and family in Maghera was very special for them. Andrew said, 'To do this with my daughter by my side, that's all that matters to me, and we always carried Maghera with us wherever we went. '