Friends break record for cycling length of UK and raise thousands for charity

A group of university friends have broken the record for cycling the length of the UK on a conference bike and raised thousands of pounds for a cancer charity.

Two core teams of riders set off on Sunday May 22 and cycled in shifts throughout the day and night on the 200kg (441lb) seven-seater bike, finishing the challenge on May 28.

The group also raised more than £18,000 for Cyclists Fighting Cancer – a national children’s charity which provides lightweight bikes, tandems and adapted trikes.

The previous Guinness World Record for the same route travelled on a conference bike was set in 2010, by a team of 194 people taking more than 28 days.

Magnificent Seven team member Colin Bolton said: “Despite most of the team being experienced riders, it took a lot of mental as well as physical energy to keep going – especially through the nights.

Another team member, Jeff Kapp, who was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2008, said raising funds for a cancer charity was the “natural thing to do” as he had cycled throughout his treatment.

“As an ex-elite cyclist there was no way I was going to follow the stock ‘rest and take it easy’ advice,” Mr Kapp said.

“I kept riding all the way through my cancer treatment and I am confident that I came through the other side in a much better way thanks to the exercise.

“Cancer is tough on adults, but so much tougher on kids, so supporting (Cyclists Fighting Cancer) was a natural thing for me to do.”

– For more information and to donate, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/JOGLEbyConferenceBike