Bike man's £3,500 trek for children's hospices

A man has raised more than £3,500 for East Anglia s Children s Hospices after cycling solo from Land s End to John O Groats. Guy Mackenzie, 42, from West End, Ashwell, set off from Cornwall on May 15, and arrived at John O Groats on June 10. Covering abou

A man has raised more than £3,500 for East Anglia's Children's Hospices after cycling solo from Land's End to John O'Groats.

Guy Mackenzie, 42, from West End, Ashwell, set off from Cornwall on May 15, and arrived at John O'Groats on June 10.

Covering about 50 miles a day, Mr Mackenzie travelled a total of 1,093 miles, including a couple of scenic detours.

He said: "The first three or four days were the hardest, but after that I got used to the idea that I would have to cover 50 miles a day."

Although the journey largely passed without incident, Mr Mackenzie did have an encounter with a sheepdog in Cumbria.

After Mr Mackenzie stopped to allow a farmer to herd sheep, the dog collided with his bicycle.

Mr Mackenzie said: "He wasn't looking where he was going, but he didn't get hurt."

And if he can get permission from his wife, Mr Mackenzie says he would like to make the journey again.

East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH) was formed after a merger of three hospices in Milton, Ipswich, and Quidenham in Norfolk.

The charity, which costs £5.5 million a year to run, supports families throughout their experience of caring for children with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses.

For more information about EACH or to make a donation visit the website www.each.org.uk or call 01953 715559.