FOUR friends have set off on an epic bike ride in memory of a woman who died of cancer.

David Humphries, John Stephenson, Neil Shackleton and Brian Childs left Land’s End for John O’Groats on Monday.

They are taking a route of 1,017 miles on a journey in memory of Sharon Parker, who died last year aged 33.

Mr Humphries, who is minister at Scapegoat Hill Baptist Church, said: “There are a lot of people in Scapegoat Hill who have been affected by cancer, so we decided to do something to raise money for charities that help them.”

The foursome hope to raise thousands of pounds for Cancer Research UK as well as the West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust and the Milnsbridge United Churches Healing Ministry.

They will ride an average of 72 miles a day to finish the event in two weeks.

Mr Humphries said: “We have been training seriously since April, going out on longer and longer rides.

“We’ll be glad to get Devon and Cornwall out of the way, because that’s meant to be the hardest part.

“We are looking forward to seeing the whole country, from bottom to top.”

... while this trio are aching from the trip

THREE friends raised £4,000 for Cancer Research UK cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

The average rider takes 14 to 18 days to complete the 874-mile challenge.

But Peter Sykes (pictured above left), landlord of The Cricketers Arms, Netherthong, together with Lyndon Campbell (centre) and Andrew Bridgeman, both of Thongsbridge took less than seven days to reach the northernmost tip of the UK mainland.

Despite a crash and just four months training the trio braved dreadful weather and tortuous hills to raise money in honour of Peter’s sister Ruth Sykes who died from cancer.

Peter said: “It was terrible going. Every imaginable adversity – we had it. I fell off near Hereford. I got a few grazes but my pride hurt worse!

“The toughest was the Scottish Highlands. It was hilly and we were running out of energy by that stage.

“In training the most we’d done was 90 miles a day. Here we were doing 130 miles. You get up in the morning and you’re in pain but you take some paracetamol and you do it all over again.

“The best part was finishing. I’m still aching. I won’t be doing it again!”