Cycle ride from coast to coast

4:01pm Tuesday 30th September 2008

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A GROUP of cyclists from Colden Common raised nearly £2,000 for charity by riding from the Irish Sea to the North Sea.

Their 140-mile journey through northern England, which took four days, involved rugged terrain, long climbs, and some impressive scenery including the Lake District.

Starting at Workington in Cumbria, the team rode across the Pennines towards the finish line of the Coast 2 Coast challenge in Sunderland.

The squad comprised Tim Donald, Dave Hadley, Ian Pearson, Simon McRae, Steve Cox and James Rawlinson. Nigel Albon, who drove their support vehicle, helped the team on the journey.

Said Mr Cox: "At 140 miles long, the Coast 2 Coast is one of Britain's longest and most challenging cycle routes and is based on off-road tracks, disused railway lines, cycle paths and minor roads.

"There are some seriously hard climbs every day, with the highest point being well over 2,000 feet."

All seven men are part of the Colden Common Sad Old Dads group, which manned the human fruit machine at the village fete in June.

Thanks to their ride, which took place last month (September), they raised £1,900 for the Oncology Charitable Fund at St Mary's Hospital, Portsmouth, to combat prostate cancer.