PENWORTHAM GP and Preston North End club doctor Nick McCraith has returned to duty at his practice in Penwortham after cycling across Mexico for the Macmillan Cancer Relief charity.

He cycled 400 miles in eight days with a rest day in Acapulco at the end of the ride.

The first two days were on the flat through sugar cane plantations, but on the third day they had to cycle uphill for 57 kilometres.

About a quarter of the cyclists failed to reach the summit of 10,000 feet. Every night the participants camped in tents.

The youngest cyclists were 19 and the eldest 67. The weather was hot and sunny with a maximum of 32 C at noon.

Each day commenced at 8am and approximately 30 miles were completed before the cyclists rested during the heat of the day. They then continued cycling at 3pm.

Unfortunately, the road surfaces were very poor, with many potholes.

Nick said the organisation was good, with excellent food provided by Mexican cooks on site - although two of the sites had no water.

Luckily, Nick had bottles of water supplied by Sangs Banff Ltd, Lucozade Sport, backed up with Kit-Kats and Drifters from Nestle.

Approximately £4,500 has been raised so far but if any readers wish they can send a donation to Nick at St Mary's Health Centre, Cop Lane, Penwortham.

He is already planning his next marathon cycling event.

In 2000, he will cycle 300 miles (500 Km) in Morocco for the National Deaf Children's Society.

In order to keep fit he will complete in the Manchester to Blackpool cycle event and, with his son Graeme, will cycle in the summer from coast to coast, 160 miles from Whitehaven to Sunderland.

One of Nick's most interesting moments in Mexico was chatting to a former Scotland Yard Superintendent Jack Slipper who tracked down the Great Train robber Ronnie Biggs in Brazil.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.