Buxton cyclists raise £1,700 after riding 360 miles in 36 hours

Matthew Bradley (left) and Lewis Beresford were the only challangers to complete the gruelling challenge

Two Buxton cyclists have raised £1,700 after riding a jaw-dropping 360 miles in 36 hours – without any rest or sleep.

Fearless riders Lewis Beresford, 20, and Matthew Bradley, 19, started the gruelling challenge on July 19, to raise money for Help for Heroes. The pair embarked from Lewis’ home at Stoop Farm, near Hollinsclough, and headed East to Skegness, South below Peterborough, West above Leicester, then back up through the Peaks to finish at Stoop again.

Lewis, a former Buxton Community School student who now studies at Cambridge University, said: “It was easily the hardest thing I’ve ever done. We had an absolutely fantastic reception from everyone at the end and raised an amazing amount.”

He added: “We wanted push ourselves to the very limit with this challenge, in the hope that people will donate generously. My sister, Hannah, is in the army, and we have a lot of respect for people in the forces.

Riders accompanied the challengers for the last leg of the ride to Stoop Farm.

“Help for Heroes do absolutely fantastic work in supporting servicemen and women, and we wanted to do what we could to support them.”

Lewis said that the pair rode 365.7 miles, ascended 20,000 feet, and burnt around 20,000 calories in total.

The pair have already achieved their target on Just Giving, but the Advertiser is urging people to dig-deep and donate for such a tremendous effort.

To sponsor the lads, visit https://www.justgiving.com/Lewis-Beresford/