A TEENAGER has spent part of the summer holidays cycling 363 miles to raise money for charity.

George Stones, 17, from Southend, cycled from the Kursaal on Southend seafront to Mevagissey, Cornwall, to raise more than £600 for Havens Hospices.

He left Southend on Sunday, July 21 with his friend Jo Briscoe, also from Southend, riding for between eight and nine hours a day and reaching at their destination on Saturday, August 3.

George said: “We were quite bored during the summer holidays. We thought, ‘Let’s go for a bike ride’, and it all went from there. We didn’t do very much training and had to carry camping equipment, food and other supplies with us, so it was hard work.

“We provided moral support for each other during the journey to make sure we could keep going.

“At the end of the ride my parents were there to meet us and help us celebrate the achievement.”

Explaining why he had completed the ride for H a v e n s Hospice, George added: “My mum’s friend died at Fair Havens last year, so we know how valuable the care it provides can be.

“While we were planning the ride, my mum suggested I try to raise some money for the hospices at the same time, and she continued to collect donations while I was away. We were both so pleased with the final amount.”

George has now presented a cheque to Havens, whose community fundraiser Hilary Metcalfe said “What a great achievement for the boys, and a fantastic way to support their local hospices. It shows real dedication to cycle such a long way, all in the name of fundraising.

“We don’t charge a penny for our care, and that simply wouldn’t be possible without people like George and everyone who sponsored him, so I would like to say a big thank you.”