Nigel Barter, a former 'Rossian’, is currently embarking on an epic cycle endurance challenge, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support; Nigel is cycling 1000 miles over ten days, from John O’Groats to Lands End and he came through his old hometown of Ross-on-Wye on Tuesday, June 28th.

Nigel, known to his friends and family as ‘Budgie’, currently lives in Kidderminster. He began cycling on Wednesday, June 22nd, and has been covering an average distance of 100 miles each day, in some truly abysmal weather.

Nigel’s older brother Richard, also originally from Ross-on-Wye, has been supporting his brother along the route. He has been driving the route in his van, never too far away from Nigel, just in case there is an emergency. He also planned the journey, taking in the entire length of the UK. He told the Gazette that he had mostly planned the route away from main roads, to make sure his younger brother is safe.

Nigel explained that Richard’s original route had come to a distance of approximately 950 miles, so he had added an extra 50 mile ride on to his last day when he will cycle around Cornwall.

On Tuesday, Richard, who now lives in Leeds with his partner, was able to call in for lunch to see his son who still lives in the town, while Nigel cycled from Fownhope to Ross. Richard explained that the day they came through Ross was the longest stint of all; the goal for Tuesday was for Nigel to cycle 124 miles.

Nigel is fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support, as this is a charity very close to his family’s heart; they both have many loved ones who have battled with the disease.

To sponsor Nigel, please visit his online donation page at justgiving.com/budgieonabike.

Nigel has now gone through the halfway point in his journey, and the pair are both in good spirits, but that’s not to say the journey has been easy. Nigel explained that he has had some soreness in his knees, and from the saddle, while Richard added that while Nigel was cycling through Scotland in the torrential rain, he had a puncture, and Nigel had to use his older, back-up bike for a few days, while his bike was being repaired.

Nigel finished his journey on Tuesday at Bristol airport, and Richard had booked them into a B&B, as he has done each night, so that Nigel can get a proper night’s rest before his next challenging day.