MEMBERS of the Bradworthy YFC took on a challenge with a difference recently in aid of Children’s Hospice South West (CHSW), a charity close to the club’s heart.

A team of six cycled to each of the 38 Young Farmers Club in Devon, including the YFC headquarters.

The event kicked off — or pedaled off — on Thursday, June 22, with the team concluding their journey in Bradworthy square on Sunday, June 25.

Two members from Bradworthy YFC, Ryan Walter and Catherine Trible, cycled 400 miles over four days. They were joined on the Saturday and Sunday by three other members, Amy Osborne, Craig Heale and Mark Piddington, and said they were ‘well supported by the public’.

Ryan came up with the idea for the challenge. He said: “Children’s Hospice South West is a charity close to our hearts and I wanted to try and get as many YFC’s as possible involved in the challenge and raise awareness of the charity around the county.”

Speaking about the event Ryan told the Post the weekend-long event was difficult, with some section of the trip around the county proving harder than others, but despite the long hours he said it was ‘an enjoyable trip’.

“There are 38 Young Farmers Clubs across the Devon county and it was great to cycle to each club and meet all the members. It was definitely tough at times, but some areas were alright and easier than others!”

Over the four days the group covered 400 miles, visiting each of the young farmers clubs in Devon and stopping off at Yarcombe, Winkleigh and Kingsbridge clubs in the evenings.

Ryan said: “We were well supported and made very welcome by all the clubs and on the final day there were about 100 people waiting in the square to welcome us back. The pub even put on a barbecue.”

Ryan said the cycle itself went well, adding: “On the first day I think we cycled about 120 miles, the second and third day we did about 95 miles for each and by the last day we only cycled about 80 miles. It was tiring and we did slow down and have a few more breaks in the final days. The first day was particularly tough though, we started at 7am and didn’t arrive in Yarcombe until about 9pm, so a good 14 hours straight — we didn’t even stop for lunch because we knew we had so many miles to cover!

“The weather was pretty alright. It was overcast but that was just about right really because if it wasn’t it would have been too hot and we would definitely have struggled.”

Along the way Ryan said the team were collecting generous donations from the public and received sponsorship through a JustGiving page, enabling them to raise a substantial sum for CHSW, he said: “We did collect donations on the way around and we also had businesses donate to us before hand and our own individual sponsor forms too — we haven’t exactly had a full count up yet, but is looking like it will be close to £3000 in total.”

Zoe Miles, part of the community fundraising team at the charity’s Little Bridge House hospice in North Devon, said: “This was such a great achievement and we’re so pleased to have the club’s support. It costs over £9-million each year to run our three hospices and we simply could not continue our vital work without the support of our local community”.

Children’s Hospice South West provides care for children and their families who have life-threatening or life-limiting conditions.

There is still time to donate to the Bradworthy YFC Chairty Cycle Ride challenge. Visit Bradworthy YFC’s JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bradworthy-yfccycle