TWO men from Tavistock cycled almost 200 miles last week to raise money for a local charity. Cousins John Carpenter, 37, and Robert Curtis, 34, set off for the North Devon District Hospital on Saturday, February 16 from Tavistock in aid of the Mustard Tree Macmillan cancer relief charity at Plymouth's Derriford Hospital. They cycled 80 miles to Barnstaple, stayed overnight and travelled back on Sunday. But when the pair were at Hatherleigh, 24 miles from Tavistock, a passing car clipped Robert on his elbow and knocked him off his bike, which resulted in him breaking his foot. The ride managed to continue as 19-year-old Andrew, John's eldest son, came to Hatherleigh and picked up from where Robert had the accident. John said apart from this incident the pair of them had fun and enjoyed their time during the cycle ride. He said: 'It was brilliant. We had a whale of a time and it was very much a success — I am very pleased. So far we have raised £490 for the charity.' John and Robert expressed thanks to Derek Heelis from Dartmoor Cycles for the bikes and to Tavistock phone shop Intek for two donated Nokia phones which they will raffle or auction to raise more money for the charity.
