AS one of the Half Bike Heroes, Headley Down man Martin Hughes, 43, completed a 24-hour charity cycling challenge and, with three teammates, raised more than £10,500 for The Brain Tumour Charity.

The four completed, on fold-up commuter bikes, a 24-hour relay on the Isle of Man TT mountain circuit in memory of their friend, Chris Holye, who lost his life to a brain tumour three years ago.

Mr Hughes and his team - Paul Williams, James Godfrey and Richard Dawson - set off at noon on Saturday, September 26, and completed six laps of the 37-mile course, climbing 2,132 feet each lap.

“The circuit was a struggle at times, but we kept going and the event organisers were brilliant - they turned out at night to cheer us on and give us Jelly Babies to keep us going,” said Mr Hughes.

All four rode the first 100 yards and the last 100 yards together. For the rest of the time they took turns to cycle in pairs.

Mr Hughes said: “During my break, I watched the Rugby World Cup’s England versus Wales match in a pub.

“Let’s just say my wife, Erika, who’s Welsh, was happier with the result than me.

“Our friend Chris was a keen cyclist in his youth and we think he’d have approved of our bike rides, although he would’ve laughed at the thought of joining us.

“But I’m sure he would’ve supported us all the way in raising money for a cause that was so close to his heart.”

Two years ago, the Half Bike Heroes did the 170-mile Way of the Roses coast-to-coast bike ride (from Morecambe to Bridlington), raising more than £4,500 for the charity.

Geraldine Pipping, The Brain Tumour Charity’s head of fundraising, said: “We’re amazed that the Half Bike Heroes completed such a challenging circuit on commuter bikes - all that was missing were the bowler hats.

“Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and people under 40 in the UK and survival rates have not improved significantly over the last 40 years.

“We receive no Government funding and rely 100 per cent on voluntary donations, so it’s only through the efforts of people like Martin that we can change these shocking statistics in the future and bring hope to the thousands of people who are diagnosed with a brain tumour each year.”

Event organiser Laura Mearns said: “We’re in awe of James and his team.

“The circuit is challenging enough, nevermind on fold-up bikes, but we supported them all the way.’’