Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle challenge raises money for Sport Relief

Energetic students and staff raised money for Sport Relief by taking part in a Land’s End to John O’Groats cycle challenge.

A total of 52 participants pedalled as fast as they could on exercise bikes in the sports science labs at Coventry University’s Science and Health Building for the fund-raiser.

They cycled in a team relay covering 874 miles – the distance between the two UK landmarks – in two hours and 57 minutes.

There were cheers and whoops as they realised they’d achieved their target and even cycled a few miles extra.

The fund-raisers, including students from sport and exercise science, sports therapy, dietetics and physiotherapy courses, have already collected more than £270 for Sport Relief through online donations and a bucket collection on the day.

Organiser Mike Price, an exercise physiologist in the university’s sport and exercise science department, said:

“It was a fantastic effort. We were aiming for under four hours and beat our target by an hour.

In the real world, cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats is a long, arduous activity to do.

We wanted to break it down, have some fun with the students and try to get it done, in a short space of time. Sport Relief was an ideal opportunity to do this and raise some money at the same time.” 

Kelsey Barton-Shaw, a first year sport and exercise science student, cycled 19 miles as part of the challenge. She said:

“There was a good buzz around the room as everyone was cycling.

“It felt really good to be part of it. I could do it all again right now.”

Abigail Goode, who also studies sport and exercise science and cycled 17 miles in an hour, said:

“It was hard at the beginning but then I settled into a good pace and it was lots of fun. I could have carried on for longer.”

To donate visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/coventryspo

The Sport Relief fund-raisers after completing their cycle challenge.