Hebburn Involve FC members raise £3,000 for Cancer Connections and SSAFA after cycling length of the country from Berwick to Dover

Hebburn Involve chairman Brian Stewart, Event’s Lead, Jamie Davison and first team players Colin McClean and Daniel Wilkinson.

Four members of Hebburn Involve F.C cycled 590 miles on the journey spanning over six days, all in aid of supporting local charity Cancer Connections and armed forces charity SSAFA.

All four men who took part in the challenge are ex armed forces and include Hebburn Involve chairman Brian Stewart, Event’s Lead, Jamie Davison and first team players Colin McClean and Daniel Wilkinson.

Starting in Berwick and travelling down the East coast all the way to Devon, the group managed to raise £2200 for Cancer Connections and £800 for SSAFA doing around 80-95 miles per day.

The four lads dressed as superheroes on the final day of the challenge

Despite the hard work, the group were able to get through the challenge by supporting one another.

Hebburn Involve F.C Chairman, Brian Stewart, said: “It was really hard work, definitely a hard slog. We did about 80-95 miles a day and with some great comradery we soldered through it. We had a really good time.

“We took each day as it came and worked as a team to pull each other through it. There was definitely some fatigue after but it was all worth it and we’re looking forward to making plans to continue raising money in the future.”

The idea for the challenge came about during the first lockdown when members of the club knew they wanted to find a way that they could help to support charities with a fundraiser.

On the last day of the challenge the four lads dressed as superheroes to pay tribute to the heroes in the armed forces up and down the country.

The group are already planning future long distance cycle challenges for charity, with the idea to cycle the length of a number of countries, starting with next year with Scotland, then Wales and Ireland before moving further abroad across Europe.

The group are still taking donations for the fundraising challenge, which can be made towards Cancer Connections via this link and for the SAAFA Armed Forces Charity via this link.

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