A GROUP of friends have raised more than £16,000 on a charity cycle ride around the whole of Wales.

The group of nine men, dubbed ‘The Fundracers’, completed an impressive 600 miles on their bikes all in aid of various charities.

Among them was Andy Lewis, father of little Tianna Lewis McHugh who suffers from reflex anoxic seizures (RAS) that are brought on when she cries or is shocked by something.

The Tour de Cymru took the riders on a six-day, anti-clockwise tour of Wales taking in Mold, Flint, Rhyl, Colwyn Bay, Caernarfon, Pwllheli, Harlech, Barmouth, St David’s, Carmarthen, Llanelli, Swansea, Cardiff, the Brecon Beacons and Llandrindod Wells before returning to Wrexham last Sunday.

Along the way the cyclists even got a glimpse of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in North Wales.

One of the cyclists Simon Threadgold, 26, who explained: “In Conway we saw the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh pass us in the car and the Duke gave us a wave.
“We think we saw them in the car in Caernarfon too.”

Simon, whose stepfather Carl was paralysed in a bike-riding accident, was raising money for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation.

Among the group’s adventures was one involving one of the cyclists who accidentally ended up cycling on the M4 to Cardiff and had to be escorted off by a police officer.

The Fundracers, who had no previous cycling experience, were on their bikes for about eight hours a day. Three of the members had to pull out of the event before it started and instead took on a support role driving with the cyclists.

But the three didn’t get off too easily and had to take on challenges each day including dressing up as women and doing press-ups.

Speaking about the experience, Simon said: “The scenery was incredible and we had really good weather until about halfway when the heavens opened.

“The last two days were a killer but overall it went really well.

“We were so pleased with the support we got everywhere and especially when we came back to Wrexham, there were well over 100 people to welcome us back.”

The funds raised will go to charities chosen by the riders including Nightingale House Hospice, Hope House Children’s Hospices, the League of Friends for the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital and the National Autistic Society.

Anybody who would like to donate to the cause or wants to find out more should visit www.thefundracers.com