A member of staff from Cambridge Building Society is training to cycle the famous Land's End to John O'Groats route.

Oliver Shearing, 24, along with 6 friends from Cambridge's CB5 Cycling Club aims to cover the mammoth 1035 mile route in just 15 days. Oliver hopes to raise £1,000 for the Alzheimer Society.

The team plan to cycle up to 80 miles per day, taking in scenes of the North Cornish coast, before passing through the beautiful Chedder Gorge, Shropshire, the Yorkshire Dales and the Eden Valley in Cumbria. On day 9 they hope to cross the Scottish border, and hope to reach the northern tip of the Scottish mainland on 25th June.

Oliver and the team have been training for this ride since September last year, riding around 60 miles a week during the winter months and now completing between 120 - 160 miles per week. They ride on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and partake in a main ride on Sunday mornings.  

Oliver, a Business Services Assistant at the Society's Administration Centre, said:

"I'm really looking forward to the ride, and have received great support from my family and friends. I would also like to thank the staff and customers of Cambridge Building Society for all their support so far. It will be great to fulfil a lifetime ambition whilst raising money for such a worthwhile cause that is close to my heart."

Oliver has chosen to raise money for the Alzheimer Society after a close family member sadly passed away from the illness last year.


Oliver, third from left, and the CB5 cycling team prepare for one of their many Sunday morning rides.