A WIMBORNE teacher has cycled 525km in The Brain Tumour Charity’s fundraising ride from Clapham to Cornwall – raising almost £1,000.

Mr Josh Mead, who is Head of Lancaster House at Queen Elizabeth’s School, completed the ride between Wednesday, June 30 and Saturday July 3, covering 404km on a static bike in school and the last 121km on the road, from Plymouth to Falmouth.

Mr Mead said: “My close friend’s father, a retired teacher, was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive terminal brain cancer in August 2020.

“I wanted to help families like his fight this awful disease and also raise some money for The Brain Tumour Charity.

“So, when I heard about the bike ride, I jumped at the chance of taking part.”

The ride was initially supposed to follow a course from London to Amsterdam.

Unfortunately, Covid-19 restrictions led to the organisers changing the route from London to Cornwall.

Mr Mead said: “Work commitments meant I covered the London-Plymouth leg of the ride on a bike in school, in between teaching. But I really enjoyed this as it gave me chance to raise awareness amongst pupils of what I was doing and why and in turn they gave me a great deal of encouragement.

“I then travelled to Plymouth and completed the last 121km of the ride to Falmouth with 24 other riders and this was simply amazing.

“The QE family spirit and so many messages of support definitely carried me up those last few Cornish hills on Saturday.

“I am thrilled that I have almost reached my personal £1,000 fundraising target and the cycling team has already raised a combined £54,000 – way above our £50,000 target.”

CEO of the Wimborne Academy Trust, Liz West said: “Mr Mead’s strength and determination have been an inspiration to us all at the trust and I know the whole school community has been very generous in sponsoring his efforts.

“We are extremely proud of what he has achieved.”