Cyclist completes 700k in 7 days challenge

Monday 29 January 2024

An avid local cyclist has achieved his goal of cycling 700km in seven days – and raised over £4,000 for research into motor neurone disease in the process.

Steven Phillips (46) smashed his target to raise £3,000 for Doddie Aid 2024, which takes its name from founder and Scottish rugby player Doddie Weir, who died as a result of the disease in 2022.

He set off on the challenge last Monday and has since cycled 100 kilometres every day of the week, meaning today will be his first off the bike.

The total distance, 700k, is the equivalent of cycling from Poole to Edinburgh, and the total elevation gained over those seven days, 7000m, is nearly the height of Mount Everest.

In total, he spent 30 hours on the bike (out of the 168 hours in a week). His quickest 100k was four hours and twenty minutes, while his slowest was five hours and four minutes.

Speaking to Express this morning, he said that the first two days were "especially hard given the super tough weather conditions". 

Pictured: Steve when he was in training for the challenge.

But, joined for segments of the challenge by friends and fellow Islanders, Mr Phillips said the company helped to ease the difficulties.

Writing on social media yesterday, he said: "Thank you to everyone who rode with me through the week, thank you to everyone that texted me with words of encouragement etc and most of all thanks again to ALL who have donated, WE HIT £4000!!!!!

"These funds will go directly towards research into MND and will help find a cure. Doddie Aid do wonderful work, please look them up and give them a follow if you haven't already!!! Thanks Joe Loosemore for the constant support and back up!!

"A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO Shaun and his team at Coop Bikes for all the freebies, advise and continued support throughout the week!"

Pictured: Steven with Shaun Crowther of Coop Bikes on Day 4 of the ride.

Mr Phillips previously explained that he knows, and has known, three people who were diagnosed with the disease – one of whom passed away on New Year's Day.

The furthest he has cycled so far was a 100km ride last year – and while Mr Phillips is a keen cyclist who took up the sport last year in the hopes of improving his fitness, he said: "I decided to push my limits with this challenge, and it's a lot for me to cover in seven days.

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Visit his fundraising page or his Facebook page to donate.