THREE teenagers from Upham have just finished a marathon cycle ride in aid of a local charity.

The girls, sisters Louisa and Hannah Tice and Eleanor Hill, have raised £7,505.19 for Allegra’s Ambition which was set up after the sudden death two years ago of Allegra Whittome, 16, from Lower Wield, a pupil at St Swithun’s School in Winchester, a friend of all three.

The trio, on a whim, decided to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in the north of Scotland.

They covered a staggering 935 miles, ascended 50,973ft, descended 50,999 ft, took 14 days, visited seven bike shops with broken spokes, dealt with only four punctures, dared each other to take a spontaneous bunjee jump and ate 168 chocolate bars.

Louisa said: “I have known Allegra and her family since I was six and have long wanted to do something for Allegra’s Ambition, to raise funds and awareness of the charity. #challengeyourself was another reason which so perfectly reflects Allegra’s ethos and the way she lived her life.

“Our morale remained high, we wanted this to be fun and relaxed but the toughest part was climbing those long arduous hills through the Lake District.”

I have never been to Scotland before so, for me seeing it was revelatory; the fact so many people were following our journey and helping us raise money forced us through to our goal.”