A WEST Devon based audiologist battled pouring rain, pain and the feeling of 'going mad' to cycle the mammoth distance from John O'Groats to Lands End recently.

Alistair Kinsey, from Alistair Kinsey Hearing and Mobility in Tavistock, cycled the distance in eight days, raising £692.50 for the Plymouth Deaf Children's Society (PDCS), which has given a lot of support to Alistair's daughter who has permanent hearing loss in one ear.

Alistair said: 'The first day was great, the weather and scenery was outstanding. By day three things were a little different — every part of my body was in pain, wet, cold and I was feeling sorry for myself. A fellow cyclist, Ian, appeared on the same journey, and somehow the conversation that followed put everything into perspective. The rest of that day through the Great Glen down to Glasgow, where the rain was either across or going up, was filled with uncontrollable laughter — I was going mad I feel.'

Alistair said that the subsequent days settled into a routine of sorts.

'Due to a poor second day the mileage was up to about 130 to 140 miles per day, and about 10 to 12 hours on the bike.

'The final leg was from Tiverton to Land's End, straight down the middle of the county. I finished at around 10.15 in the dark, tired but very happy it was all over.'

PDCS organises social events for hearing impaired children and their families.