08.06.11: On 19th May, Roseland Resident Tom Counsell and his friend Andy Clark set off on a charity bike ride – 900 miles from John O’Groats to Lands End – in aid of new and charity.

The Charity, Coppafeel’s (www.coppafeel.org) mission is to stamp out the late detection and misdiagnosis of breast cancer by ensuring that people know the signs and symptoms. Their message is to ask young women to know what their breasts look and feel like normally, check their breast regularly throughout their lifetime and have the confidence to seek medical referral when they detect abnormalities.

Tom had been planning the charity ride since last year when doing a three day ride through Cornwall and in an exclusive interview, told Roseland Online, “I am friends with person who set up the charity Coppafeel,  Kristin Hallenga, who was misdiagnosed 3 times and now has stage 2 cancer. Rather than dwell on it, though, she is doing something and her work has found 8 cases from self checks.”

On the journey we became caught in 100 mile winds, got blown off road and had to step over a falling tree. We passed others who were doing the same trip and there was a feal feeling of camaraderie. We camped and spend some nights in, b&bs.

They reached Bude on Friday 27th May having cycled the country in 8 days before spending the weekend cycling the last 130 miles with a group of 65 cyclists, finally reaching Lands End on bank holiday Monday.

Unbeknown to his girlfriend, Emma, Tom also had planned to ask her to marry him when they arrived in Lands End… in his lycra! That happened moments before this picture was taken.

If you would like to donate to Tom’s great achievement either click here, or alternatively just give Tom a good pat on the back when you see him! And congratulations, Emma and Tom on the engagement!