Last updated at 16:54, Tuesday, 01 May 2012

AN INTREPID team of cyclists are nursing their aches and pains after tackling a 1,000 mile bike ride.

FINISH LINE: Team Alice at John O’Groats after completing their cycling from Land’s End Submitted Picture

“Team Alice” made their way back to Furness yesterday – this time in petrol-powered cars rather than on pedal-powered bikes.

Thanks to their extraordinary effort of cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groat in 10 days, not only have they raised more than £7000 so far for local charity Alice’s Escapes, but inspired others to do their bit as well.

Alice was just 12 when she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and ever since has been a working to raise awareness of the disease and encourage people to register as bone marrow donors.

That work is set to be built upon by the Alice’s Escapes charity, which will offer families with seriously ill children to take a break from hospitals and enjoy the Lake District and its surrounds.

Team member Sonja Foster, of Newbarns in Barrow, said the outpouring of support made every hill, every bump and every headwind worth it.

“We’re absolutely delighted with the response and we’ve all got money to collect when we get back, so we could be knocking on for about £10,000, which would be brilliant.

“We feel a bit sad that it’s all over because we’ve been out there for 10 days as a team, but we feel like it’s a massive achievement and we’re very proud of each other.

“There’s a few aches and pains today, but everybody’s not feeling too bad.”

Ulverston Victoria High School is the latest to show its support for Alice’s charity, announcing it would raffle two brand new mountain bikes this week.

UVHS assistant head teacher Roger Cahalin said the school community, which hosted Team Alice last week, could not fail to be moved by the 16-year-old’s plight.

“We had these two new mountain bikes given to us by a local resident and we’ve been looking for a cause we could raffle them for and this came along,” he said.

“All this week raffle tickets will be on sale and hopefully the kids will buy tickets, make donations and we’ll raise as much money as we can.”

First published at 13:40, Tuesday, 01 May 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk