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'Beery Bikers' pedal all the way to Spain for charity

Isabella VeronaNorthamptonshire
News imageSupplied Two cyclists wearing brightly coloured helmets and waterproof cycling jackets. Cars are parked behind them in front of a stone wall and dense greenery, with rain visible on their clothing.Supplied
Julian Annison and Michael Martin have raised more than £7,000 so far

Two pals - dubbed the Beery Bikers - have completed a charity cycle ride from Northamptonshire to Spain in memory of their loved ones.

Julian Annison and Michael Martin pedalled from their hometown in West Haddon, posting their ride on social media as they travelled 1,289 miles (2,074 km).

The friends have raised more than £7,000 for the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support in memory of Martin's mum and Annison's wife, who both passed away last year.

Annison, a 59-year-old retired engineer, said: "It's one of the things [my wife] wanted us to do. It was something for me to focus on after she passed away."

News imageSupplied Two cyclists in cycling jerseys sit at an outdoor café table in a busy city street. Plates holding pastries and a drinks can are on the table, with shops, pedestrians and historic-looking buildings visible in the background.Supplied
The adventurers took on the 6,939ft (2,115m) Col du Tourmalet in the French Pyrenees

The pair started planning their bike ride last year, and at the time had planned for Annison's wife, Diane, and Martin's wife, Catherine to meet them in Spain at the end of their trip.

However, when Diane passed away in December from a rare aggressive sarcoma cancer of the uterus, the two friends both retired early and pursued the trip in her memory.

Martin, whose mum died from a heart attack last year, said: "We came up with the phrase The Beery Bikers... we're really trying to turn something that's not so positive, into a bit of fun."

They set off on 27 August from The Crown Inn in West Haddon and since then the cyclists have raised £7,500 so far, with a goal of £10,000.

Martin, 58, said: "The support we've got from strangers and meeting people along the way has been fantastic."

Biking up to seven hours a day, the terrain proved to be "quite a challenge" according to his sidekick.

During their adventures, which saw them overcoming nearly 17,000 ft (5,182m) of hills and mountains on the way, they each burned more than 55,000 calories.

News imageSupplied A cyclist stands with a touring bicycle on a path beside a lake. The bicycle has pannier bags and equipment, while trees, water and a clear blue sky form the background.Supplied
The Beery Bikers say they enjoy a cheeky half pint when they stop in the evening

The pair told Annabel Amos on BBC Radio Northampton they made it to Castro Urdiales, not far from Santander, earlier than they anticipated.

On Sunday they plan to catch a ferry from Santander to head home to celebrate with friends and family.

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