Man cycles 180 miles in memory of best friend

A man has completed a 180-mile cycling challenge along Hadrian's Wall and back to his home in memory of his best friend who died from motor neurone disease.

Justin Copestake, from Etruria, Stoke-on-Trent, completed the challenge on Tuesday, the second anniversary of his friend Bil's death, and has raised £1,200 for the MND Association.

Copestake said the condition had a devastating impact not only on Bil but on those around him.

"It's horrendous for the person suffering with it but family and friends witnessing the care that they need, it's just horrific," he said.

Copestake said the ride, completed over five days, was physically and emotionally demanding, with difficult weather conditions and steep sections along the route.

"It was tough," he said. "The weather conditions were just changing hourly."

He said that the fourth day of the challenge was particularly gruelling.

"I knew that was going to be the hardest day but about five miles up bank I wasn't just pushing the bike, I was dragging it up. It was the weight on the bike."

"There was times where I thought my body can't take anymore," he added.

He described one particularly emotional moment on Monday when he stopped off at a pub.

"Every emotion you can imagine just came out," he said.

His wife Hailey said she was "really proud" of what Copestake had achieved in memory of his "one and only true best friend".

"It's been an emotional rollercoaster for him," she said. "I didn't think he'd go through with it."

Copestake said he hoped to continue fundraising for MND.

"We'll see where we go from there," he said. "Something's already in the pipeline."

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