A financial advisor stopped off in Fenland during his remarkable 750 mile bile ride in aid of the hospital ward which cared for his dying sister.
Paul Bryanton, 44, of Ipswich, who did not even own a bike a year ago, cycled from John O’Groats to Ipswich Hospital over nine days, raising more than £7,000 for the Somersham Ward, where his sister Karan was cared for before she died of cancer last February.
On Friday, accompanied by his wife Lucy and son Paul, he stopped off at the Oliver Twist in Guyhirn after setting off from Brigg in North Lincolnshire.
Mr Bryanton said: “I feel great. There have been some difficult moments when it has been wet and windy, but at those times I focused on why I was doing the cycle and that got me through it.
“Within two weeks of being diagnosed with cancer, my sister Karan was admitted to the Somersham Ward at Ipswich Hospital. She spent the next two weeks there, which were her final days.
“The staff do a fantastic job under extremely difficult circumstances - the ward itself caters for families and loved ones that want to spend as much time as possible there.
“I wanted to raise some much needed money for the Somersham Ward support group, as a way of thanking them for the care and attention they showed Karan, and to enable them to upgrade some equipment in her memory.”
His wife Lucy said: “He’s done really well. I’ve been really impressed by the way he ploughed through it.”
Tim Church, who also accompanied Mr Bryanton on the cycle, paid tribute to his friend.
He said: “I’m in awe of him. When he first got on a bike a year ago he couldn’t even cycle home he was so out of breadth, but he’s trained so hard. He’s put in 3,000 miles on his own. I’m blown away by the achievement.”
You can still donate at www.justgiving.com/paulbryanton44
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here