A British cyclist has cycled 4,000 miles across the US, raising more than £25,000 for charity, a sum which included a donation from Dame Judi Dench.
Anthony Butcher, 32, completed his three-month challenge on Wednesday to raise money for people living with multiple sclerosis. He received a £2,000 donation from Dench, 87, via a check sent to his home in June. The cyclist then explained that his father was the actor’s daughter’s dentist.
Butcher, who works in student support at the University of Leeds, decided to take on the challenge in honor of his mother Theresa, who was diagnosed with MS when he was a teenager.
He told the PA news agency: “After five years of planning and three months of cycling, crossing the finish line felt unreal. I’m still trying to figure it out. I have been overwhelmed with kindness and am so grateful for all the support I have received. The best part of the trip was all the wonderful people who accommodated me, paid for my food and cheered me on. I can’t find the words to describe how I feel today – I can barely begin to process it.’
Butcher, from Ilkley, West Yorkshire, began his journey in Times Square, New York, in April. He climbed about 120,000 feet (36,600 meters) during the ride, which is four times the height of Mount Everest.
Butcher with his mother Teresa, who was diagnosed with MS when he was a teenager. Photo: Anthony Butcher/Pennsylvania
He said his mother had been following his journey for the past three months and described her support as “amazing”. “I spoke to my mum on the way and it was amazing to have such love and support from her. She has a little map on the wall that tracks my progress and I look forward to seeing it after I’ve crossed the finish line.”
However, he admitted that he would have to do one more thing before they could get back together. “I chose the Forrest Gump look. My wife has already booked me in for a haircut.
The cyclist was met at the finish in San Francisco by his wife and volunteers from the MS Society. He said: “When I first took off, I remember saying goodbye to my wife and thinking, ‘What have I let myself in for?'” To say I’ve cycled across America, it just feels amazing. I faced some of my toughest climbs while cycling at high altitude through the desert with nothing between the cities I was leaving and arriving from each day. The most difficult moment was the hills of Nevada, the most mountainous state in America.
The 32-year-old, whose first bike challenge 15 years ago was a ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats, which raised £3,000 for the MS Society. Photo: Anthony Butcher/Pennsylvania
Butcher has been raising money for charity for almost 20 years. He undertook his first challenge aged 17, cycling the length of Britain from Land’s End to John O’Groats, which raised £3,000 for the MS Society.
“MS is a terrible condition. It’s horrible to watch someone you love fight an unwinnable battle and know there’s nothing you can do to help them,” he said. “There is nothing I can do to help my mum, but maybe the money raised to help people living with MS and research into the disease can help other people avoid this terrible condition.”
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