Mammoth cycle ride from Haywards Heath to Paris

Euan McCormack and Tom Clarke started their challenge on Tuesday to cycle 246 mile in three days to the French capital.

On Monday they discovered their ferry to Calais was cancelled due to industrial action in France and so had to make last minute plans to cycle via Dunkirk adding an hour and a half onto their trip.

Temperatures were expected to hit 36 degrees Celsius during the challenge.

Tom, 20, of Ash Grove, is aiming to raise £2,000 for the Down Syndrome Association.

He said: “My brother, a student at Warden Park, has Down syndrome and has recently had his second heart surgery. I wanted to try to raise money to support other families with children with Down syndrome, while also raising awareness for the condition.

“I have been overwhelmed by the generosity and support of everyone who has donated so far.”

Euan, who knows the family through Tom’s sister Anja, is supporting the Eilidh Brown Memorial Fund.

Named after a girl who died aged 15 when she lost her battle with germ cell cancer, it is working to build a respite home for patients like her.

Euan, 19, said: “The charity is extremely close to my heart. Eilidh’s dad taught me at school and he is a very supportive man and truly makes you want to be the best, I feel as though this is they way I can give back.

“Cycling is something I’ve always enjoyed, it’s painful and hard work but the feeling of achieving a challenging is just great.

“The past five years Eilidh’s family have worked religiously to make her dream come true.

“The charity is aiming to build and maintain a respite home in her name in Stirling.

“The home would be used for children and their families whom have been affected by the illness, a chance to get a way from it all and spend some quality time together creating memories that would last a lifetime.”

To sponsor them go to www.justgiving.com/Euan-McCormack or www.justgiving.com/Thomas-Clarke6

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