A CHEQUE for more than £4,000 was presented to Princess Anne at Exeter Racecourse by Lifton farmer Michael Bickell, who raised the cash by completing a marathon five-week ride from John O?Groats to Land?s End.
The total of £12,435.65 raised during the sponsored ride has been divided equally three ways between Riding for the Disabled, for which Princess Anne is the patron, the Meningitis Trust and Cancer Research UK.
The presentation of a cheque for £4,145.22 was made to the Princess Royal after the first race, and cheques for the same amount were later presented to representatives of the other two charities.
Michael undertook the ride with Simon Kerslake, of Broadclyst, near Exeter, setting off from John O?Groats on August 25, and spending an average of ten hours in the saddle covering between 30 and 40 miles every day, before reaching Land?s End at the end of September.
Michael wanted to thank all the people who sponsored him and the back-up team ?which included many friends and members of Lamerton Foxhounds, of which Michael is chairman ? and everyone who put them up for the night or offered encouragement along the route.