A BARNARD Castle shop manager is hoping to raise £3,200 for charity by cycling 360 miles through England and Europe in June.
Will Wearmouth, who runs the Oxfam shop in the town, will be one of about 50 people who will take part in the Teenage Cancer Trust’s annual London to Amsterdam Cycle.
The avid cyclist is no stranger to supporting charities, having previously cycled from London to Paris for the British Legion as well as 100-miles around London, but he has never pedalled as far before.
He will be taking part in the event with close friend Chantel Hodgson and they plan to complete it in four days.
Mr Wearmouth said: “I think the tricky bit will be the third day. We will have done 180 miles and there will still be 180 miles to go, but there will be a camaraderie about the whole thing that will spur us on a bit.
“I think the training around here should stand us in good stead.”
Mr Weardale, who lives in Weardale, frequently cycles to Hexham or over the top from St John’s Chapel into Teesdale.
He added: “We are very lucky because there are a lot of lovely routes round here.”
Mr Wearmouth’s interest in cycling was sparked after the London Olympics while living in the capital.
He said: “It is a cheaper way to get to work and better than getting mingled up on the Tube.”
He said the Teenage Cancer Trust had become “the adopted charity of Weardale” after two young people in the area were diagnosed with the disease.
He said: “It must be unbelievably horrible to be diagnosed with cancer when you should be thinking about your first snog or preparing for exams.”
So far Mr Wearmouth and his friend have raised almost £1,600 of their £3,200 target.
To support their cause visit justgiving.com/fundraising
/willandchantelpedalto
thedam.
