THE Lifton Bikers smashed their target, raising more than £20,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA) by cycling from John O’ Groats to Land’s End in 13 days, writes Amy Dennis.

The bikers — Mike Wood, Martin Vanstone, Paul Davies, Malcolm Bird, Luke Harris, Alastair Batten, Paul Arscott and Adam Pengelly, with support driver Nick Horler, set off on the challenge on Saturday, September 10.

The ‘bikers’ came up with the fundraising idea as they wanted to raise money and awareness on behalf of their friend Jeremy Durrant, who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease.

Paul Davies said the idea to do a bike ride was a ‘drunken moment’ on January 1, 2015: “As we drank more the plan of what we were going to do became greater and greater to the point we said we will cycle John O Groats to Lands End.”

Paul said none of them had previously been cyclists, adding: “We had to go out and buy bikes the following week!

“We spent 18 months training as much as we could, three or four times a week.”

The cycle went ‘exceptionally well’, with everybody starting and finishing, with only a couple of mechanical issues and half a dozen punctures.

Paul added: “It did go better than everyone expected and everybody coped physically better than expected.”

Particular highlights were ‘an amazing reception’ in Lifton, and they were seen off by the children of Lifton Primary School on Friday. They also received a warm welcome to Launceston from deputy mayor Margaret Young when they passed through the town.

The bikers’ Just Giving site shows they have raised more than £22,000, and Paul said with promises, the fundraising total could go as high as £28,000. Their original fundraising target was less than half that amount — £10,000.

Paul added: “The amazing thing about it is the support we have received from the entire community. It’s brought Lifton and lots of people in Launceston and the community together in a way we never thought possible.”

“We thought £10,000 was ambitious, and to blow it away makes it all worthwhile for us. We had an absolute ball — an experience we will all remember.”

There is already talk of the group fundraising again next year, but Paul said this wouldn’t involve bikes.

They expressed their thanks to a number of people who made ‘guest appearances’ and cycled along with the bikers on parts of the route, including John Kappes, Ryan Christophers, Kelly Sargent, Chris Parsons and James Davies.

Thanks were also expressed to Martin Woollatt, whom they met at Camborne. Mr Woollatt, who lives in Troon, guided the bikers down to Land’s End, which Paul said had been a great help.

Donations can still be made at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/LiftonBikers