Man cycles UK coastline for hospice fundraiser

A man has cycled 4,000 miles around the UK coastline, raising around £1,500 in funds for The Myton Hospices.

Norman Brown, 77, took on thousands of miles, steep climbs and a heatwave, to support local people living with life-limiting illnesses and their loved ones.

Brown, from Coventry, started his cycle in May and finished on Friday. He said his "favourite part" was "meeting people along the way and sharing why I was taking part on the challenge."

"It was wonderful to speak to so many people and tell them about The Myton Hospices and the difference they make for local families," he added.

Brown, who lives in Warwick, started and ended his cycle in Exmouth and camped along the way.

He told BBC CWR that the hardest part was tackling the steep climbs in Devon and Cornwall during a heatwave.

"This really shook me up, but I reduced the mileage for each day and the time I was out for," Brown said.

He said that he felt "elated" once he reached John O'Groats, adding, "there was never a moment where I thought 'I shouldn't be doing this' or 'it is too hard', I just took each day as it came".

Brown was inspired to embark on the challenge after reading a book that he was gifted last Christmas, about someone who had completed the ride around the UK anticlockwise.

He then decided he wanted to take on the challenge himself but go clockwise instead.

Brown said he chose to raise money for The Myton Hospices as the charity is "local and does lots of great things."

"Working in Warwick, I've seen the incredible work Myton does, so if I can help raise money to support that, it's absolutely worth every mile," he added.

When asked whether he would do such a challenge again Brown said, "never say never", adding "anyone who wants a challenge, just go out there, seize the moment and do it".

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