Fab five on their bikes for Cancer Research

FIVE friends from Teesdale are embarking on a charity adventure this weekend, cycling 140 miles on a ride that includes some of the toughest climbs in the country.
Only one of the five, Richard Kesterton, is a regular road cyclist. The others – Darren Harrison, Phil McGuire, Ian Spence and Matthew Smith – are testing themselves by embarking on the coast-to-coast challenge, which starts on Friday, May 5.
The group will cycle from Whitehaven to Sunderland in aid of the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK. They will finish on Sunday, after stopping overnight in Penrith and Stanhope.
They plan to sample one or two local ales to quench their thirst after cycling up the gruelling Hartside Pass, in Cumbria, and Crawleyside, Weardale.
Mr Harrison said: “We are all getting to the age of 40 and needed a challenge. It’s going to be fun but it is for a really good cause. Everyone has been touched by cancer and some of us have lost friends.”
All but Mr Kesterton work at signmaker William Smith, in Barnard Castle. Mr Kesterton is employed by GlaxoSmithKline in the town. He said: “I do quite a bit of road biking but the others put the idea together.” Mr Smith admits to being the least fittest and joked: “I will be the one on the back – there’s no point lying about it.”
However, all have been training on Teesdale’s hills and have already smashed their target of raising £1,000.
The next charity bike ride suggested by the five friends is from Lands End to John O’Groats.
Pam Ashmore, from the Teesdale branch of Cancer Research UK, said: “I’d like to thank them all for selecting Cancer Research and wish them all luck. We handed over £65,000 last year and that goes to show how well supported we are in Teesdale. We are very grateful.”
If anyone would like to sponsor the five cyclists, they can call William Smiths on 01833 690305.