­A WORLD record has been broken by a 25-year old cyclist in aid of West Devon-based children's charity CHICKS (Country Holidays for Inner City Kids). Mark Beaumont, from Dundee, set off from Paris in August on his attempt to break the around the world cycle record. The previous record stood at 18,424 miles in 276 days, 19 hours and 15 minutes — 81 days slower than Mark. Mark finished the epic trek on Friday, February 15. The journey was not without its ups and downs — Mark suffered food poisoning in Pakistan, got water poisoning in Iran and was nearly washed away by torrential rains in Thailand. He was knocked off his bike three times, once by a donkey in Pakistan, a motorbike in India and an old lady in Florida. Following this last incident he was mugged in Louisiana. Mark raised more than £5,000 for CHICKS — a figure which could rise to £10,000 ultimately.