A group of nine friends from Sandhurst, Crowthorne and Eversley, including the managing director of The Sandhurst Group, Tim Sanders, have completed an immense charity cycle challenge that has seen them ride 277 miles from Sandhurst to Lands' End in less than 24 hours.

The team was led by Murray Humphries and includes Tim Sanders, Andy Walton, Alex Pearce, Sam Sturgeon, Matt Stott, Richard Davies, Matt Plested and Wayne Clarke. The friends, who are aged between 28 and 48, are aiming to raise as much money as possible for two charities: Macmillan Cancer Support and Thames Hospicecare. The cycle challenge commemorates Murray’s mum, Rita Humphries, who sadly passed away in October 2012 following a battle with breast cancer.

Talking about what made him organise the challenge, Murray Humphries said: "Not only did I see the suffering but I also saw the wonderful support Cancer charities provide both patients and their families. With a great group of friends we have now embarked on the challenge of riding from Sandhurst to Lands' End – a total distance of 277 miles – non-stop in 24hours, to raise funds for the wonderful charitable organisations that supported my mum. "We completed the journey in 22 hours and 22 minutes and I'm proud to say that to date, the team has been able to raise over £7,000 for the charities, which is just amazing. So thanks to everyone who has contributed so far – it makes our challenge extremely worthwhile."


A key part to the team achieving its goal was also down to the support team of Clive Sturgeon, Lindsay Rolfe, Keith Gower, Tony Dunlop, Simon Claxton, Bruce Dove, Judith and Hannah Sturgeon.

The team set off from Longdown Road in Sandhurst in the afternoon of Thursday 20 June and was accompanied by support vehicles that have been prepared by Onus Technology, Chevron Warehouse and Weedoo Signs – companies within Tim Sanders' Sandhurst Group organisation.

Tim said: "It is a huge challenge, which saw us riding overnight through Dorset, Devon and into Cornwall and so I organised for a number of support vehicles to escort us on our journey. This includes not only signwriting the vehicles so passers-by can see what we are doing, but adding safety lights, florescent warning signs and providing night riding lights, to ensure we are safe. I'm proud to have been part of the challenge, which I have shared with great friends, and to raising as much money as possible for Macmillan and Thames Hospicecare."

www.justgiving.com/landsendride2013 and www.justgiving.com/landsendride2013othercharity

(CD/JP)