A Radstock man with an incurable brain tumour has completed a 400km cycle ride, along with two friends, from the pier at Weston-super-Mare to Walton-on-the-Naze pier in Essex in just over 24 hours to raise vital funds for the Brain Tumour Research charity.

The trio, who all grew up together in Bath and are fellow parishioners of St Philip’s and St James’ Church in Odd Down, included Andrew Stammers, Dan Jones and Dave Atkinson, both of Odd Down. They completed the pedal-power challenge soon after 9 p.m. on Friday, 15th June, having set out the previous day at around 8 p.m. and cycled through the night.

Andrew, 44, was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in 2011 after suffering a seizure. Then a Baptist minister in Radstock, Andrew underwent wide-awake surgery to minimise the risks of long-term effects because the tumour was very close to his speech and understanding sensors. Having mercifully survived well beyond the two-year milestone he was initially given, each year, on his birthday, he sets himself a fundraising challenge to celebrate surviving another year.

Andrew said: “We set off from a very windy and chilly Weston-super-Mare, but thankfully, as we rode inland and darkness fell, it seemed to get a lot warmer and the wind dropped, too. For the rest of the ride, the weather was perfect.

“It was great to call into the Brain Tumour Research charity’s headquarters in Milton Keynes, just over the half-way mark, to refuel with a late breakfast and meet members of the team.

“The last fifteen miles or so were very tough for me. I have never felt so pleased to see a pier and our two support team members in their Brain Tumour Research pink t-shirts, as when we reached the finish at Walton-on-the-Naze!

“I am so grateful to everyone who has sponsored me. The Pier-to-Pier cycle has so far raised £2,857, which is amazing and will help to find more effective treatments and ultimately a cure for brain tumours.”

Fellow cyclist, Dave Atkinson, added: “Andy was awesome. It was only at the very end that he started to struggle. Everything went perfectly and we only had two punctures between us the whole way!”

The money raised will go towards ground-breaking national charity Brain Tumour Research which funds a network of dedicated Centres of Excellence where scientists are focused on improving outcomes for patients and, ultimately, finding a cure.