A ROSSENDALE Harrier swapped his running shoes for a set of wheels for a 215-mile cycle challenge to raise cash for Help for Heroes.

Danny Walsh, a first year student at Loughborough University, will also be going with a group of friends to base camp of Mount Everest in August while on his charity mission.

The cycle challenge took Danny, 18, and a group of six riders, dad Ged and brother Sam, and fellow Harriers Joe Johnston, Andy Preedy, Keith Ross and Sean Birtwistle, from St Bees in Cumbria to Robin Hood’s Bay, on the east coast.

The team have so far raised £1,128 towards the £2,650 target.

The route included overnight stops in Coniston, Kirby Stephen, Grinton and Osmotherley, North Yorkshire.

With much of it on trails and bridal paths, the route followed much of a Wainwright Walk and included a number of significant climbs, such as the Black Sail Pass, Coniston and Nine Standards.

Dad Ged, 46, from Red Lees Road, Cliviger, said: “As you would expect, it didn’t pass without the occasional mechanical problem.

“Danny needed not one but two sets of replacement pedals.

“There was at least one broken chain to contend with, and running maintenance on cables, levers and other components was all part of the experience.

“And one member of the group had to secure a replacement bike for the final leg of the journey.”

For more details, or to support Danny and the team’s cause, visit his website page which is at http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DanielWalsh4.