Capital Cycle Challenge raises thousands for cancer charity

The team take a break outside the Marie Curie Hospice

A team of 18 Littleborough-born men and women completed an amazing bike ride across the UK last week in aid of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

The ambitious Bradley family decided to take up the challenge of cycling the UK and Ireland’s five capital cities – from Belfast to London – after sadly losing a family member to cancer.

Beginning at Stormont in Belfast, the group mounted their bikes and embarked on the first stage of their journey; cycling over 100 miles to Dail Eireann in Dublin. From Dublin, the Bradleys took a short break as they jumped on a ferry across to Hollyhead.

The UK cycle route saw the team ride from Hollyhead to the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff and on to the House of Commons in London.

But it was the long haul cycle from London up to the Scottish Assembly in Edinburgh that really tested the group before they ferried back to Belfast to complete the final leg of the arduous journey.

It took the team – none of whom had ridden a bicycle in 10 years – 11 days to complete the mammoth 1057-mile trip.

Activities Coordinator Danielle Turner said: “It’s a fantastic achievement. Very hard work and we’re definitely nursing some aching muscles at the end of it.”

The Bradleys’ efforts have raised over £18,000 for Marie Curie so far, growing ever-closer to their £20,000 target.