Taking on a challenge is never easy. It’s a challenge, after all! But this is something Paulton resident, Gerald Worrall, now knows better than most.

For Gerald decided, without training and with the help of a 35-year-old, ten speed Raleigh Flyer road bike which he bought from a friend, to cycle a total of 266 miles over four days from Paulton to Land’s End, in aid of Prostate Cancer UK.

Whilst everyone around him probably throught he was mad, Gerald had kept a secret, having suffered for the past three-and-a-half years with prostate problems himself. He decided that whether or not he told anyone, it was important to him that he did something worthwhile for the cause.

Battling the end of a tropical storm that had made its way over to the UK, Gerald cycled against a constant head wind and heavy rain to get to his destination, encountering some serious hills. He said: “The bike had never been used, and I thought I’d see what it could do. I would leave at 6 a.m. every day of the challenge, staying in pubs sometimes, with no back-up or support crew.

“All I took was my mobile phone, my wallet, a change of T-shirt and shorts (and some underwear!), an adjustable spanner and puncture repair kit and was on my way.

“I’d be so tired every night when I finally stopped for the day – I even cycled to Newquay to stay with a friend, who was holidaying in Cornwall, as part of the route, only to discover that he wasn’t there until later. I then found myself doing a significant detour, despite extremely tired legs, to Perranporth, in search of food and shelter!

“On the last day, the Sunday, I set off early again. Within a mile it began to rain – and I still had 48 miles to complete. The route planner sent me the wrong way, which meant I cycled many more miles than I needed to, and I discovered that the brakes on the bike also didn’t work in the rain.

“I felt like absolutely everything was being thrown at me that day, but I’d come that far, and I wasn’t going to let it stop me.”

Even a subsequent fall over the handlebars didn’t stop Gerald, who also bent the wheel in the process, with eleven miles left to go. He finally made it to Land’s End by lunchtime, battered and soaked through, but not broken. He estimates he was riding the bike for around 36 hours in total.

He said: “Would I do it again? Too right! I honestly can’t wait to do something like that again and get back to it. It gave me a lot of thinking time and some purpose. I’ve been considering my own situation and see that it is important that men talk about health issues and not be afraid to speak to a doctor if they need to.

“I am already planning the next challenge, and some of my friends are interested in joining me for the next one. I can’t wait!”

Gerald’s fundraising target is £550, via a Justgiving page set up for the cause. Readers can donate at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gerald-worrall