A SOUTHAMPTON Sous chef has defeated the extreme challenge of cycling 1,300 miles in 13 days to raise money for charity.

After kick-starting his challenge in Glasgow, Glyn Colderwood, a Senior Sous Chef at the Novotel hotel in his hometown of Southampton, span the wheels of his bike all the way to Reading, stopping over at thirteen Novotel hotels en-route.

He passed through 13 cities on this epic route, including Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Bristol and London, and raised over £440 for Teenage Cancer Trust.

The charity is close to his heart after his brother and father both lost battles to different types of cancer two years ago.

Cycling cross-country through English hills and major cities, his longest stretch along the way was on day two, where he conquered a distance of 144 miles between Novotel Edinburgh Centre and Novotel Newcastle Airport.

Glynn said: “This journey has been very personal for me, having lost both my brother and father to cancer. Over the years I’ve gotten to know the Teenage Cancer Trust charity, seeing how they support young adults and over time, the charity has become more than just about remembrance.

"It’s been a long process to get to this point, but it has been so gratifying for me. In the past, I’ve fundraised but this experience has been by far the best and most challenging - those miles really wear you down.

He added: "Along the way, I was touched by the wonderful people I met, who came out, donated and gave their time to support me - including the Novotel teams who were there every step of the way. All the support made it even more worthwhile and kept me feeling inspired and motivated.

"When I wasn’t hitting the tarmac, I was able to take in the beautiful sights across the UK. Overall, the journey was amazing and I wouldn’t change a thing. The people, the sights and the journey are memories that will last a lifetime.”

To donate, visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/glyncolderwood.