Young fundraisers cycle for charity challenge

Brothers James and Andrew Lunn, 13 and 11, from Richmond School and Sixth Form College have cycled 300 miles across the country from Richmond, Surrey, back home to North Yorkshire; while their friend Marcus Weston, 13, who has Cardio Facio Cutaneous Syndrome, helped with his own cycling challenge.

They were inspired by The Northern Echo’s Backing the Butterworth campaign, which supports the Butterwick Hospice following its former chief executive being convicted of fraud earlier this year.

The charity saw a significant drop in donations following the scandal.

But the boys have raised £4,800 for the hospice, which cares for terminally ill adults and children from its centres at Bishop Auckland and Stockton.

Andrew and James invited Marcus to join in with his own challenge, cycling 30 miles on his adapted tricycle.

But Marcus, whose genetic condition leaves him with a host of health issues, suffered a major setback when he crashed his bike and broke his arm, compounded with a period of further illness.

Not to be beaten, and with the thumbs-up from the doctor and the support of his family and friends, a determined Marcus got back on his bike and continues to chip away at the miles.

one of only 400 people in the world living with cardio-facio-cutaneous syndrome, a genetic condition that leaves him with a host of health issues.

Marcus spent the first 13 months of his life in Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and despite his age works tirelessly to raise money for a variety of good causes.

James said: “We have been deeply impressed with the generosity of people, both in sponsorship and donations from those we met along the way.

“Our rigorous training programme really paid off, ensuring we were not only bike fit, but completely motivated and raring to go.

"It was a really rewarding experience and doing it has given us the incentive to do some more fundraising challenges in the future.”

Visit www.butterwick.org.uk to donate.