Happy ending as two ride in (From Oxford Mail)

Happy ending as two ride in

4:05pm Wednesday 30th July 2008

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TWO fathers overcame six punctures on a 1,000-mile cycle ride from John O'Groats to Land's End to raise money for two Oxford-based charities.

Graham Maxa, 39, and Jeremy Banks, 35, started out in Scotland on July 12. Twelve days later the pair reached the end of their 874-mile journey and are now just £2,00 short of their £10,000 fundraising target.

Both the cyclists' wives lost their mothers to cancer, so the campaign to the new Oxford Cancer Centre at Headington's Churchill Hospital, which is aiming to raise £2m, was one of their chosen charities.

The other was SeeSaw, because the charity for bereaved children has supported the children of friends of the families.

Father-of-two Mr Maxa, who lives near Bicester and is head of finance for Banbury-based motorsports firm Pro-Drive, said: "The first few days saw no end of wind and rain and average speeds of only 14 miles an hour.

"Traversing the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales was one of the toughest stretches - but we did reach top speeds of 40mph on the downward straights.

"Once we reached England, the weather improved and the journey became more enjoyable - until we hit Devon.

"I got six punctures and Jeremy didn't get any - changing tyres on the busy A30 with juggernauts thundering past you is no fun at all."

Father-of-two Mr Banks, headteacher of Beachborough School near Brackley, added: "It was an immensely rewarding challenge that gave us the chance to see our country up close."

Jane Elliot, fundraiser for Headington-based SeeSaw, added: "As a very small charity, the money raised will make a big difference."

Graham Brogden, head of community fundraising for Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals charitable funds, said: "We are incredibly grateful to Graham and Jeremy for taking on such a mammoth challenge."

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