Rustington man lives to tell tale of giant Dalek encounter

Guy Burridge, of The Street, had to contend with scorching summer temperatures, strong winds and strength-sapping hills on his journey from end to end of the UK.

The 54-year-old was supporting two charities close to his heart as he cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats on a month-long quest to raise cash for them – a challenge he has now completed.

Guy, a diving instructor who has lived in the Philippines for the past decade but visits home in Rustington, said: “I guess if you looked at the whole picture and the whole distance, it would have been scary, but I tried to do a day at a time.

“But some days in Cornwall and Devon were hard due to the distance and the heat.

“However, getting to the finish was an amazing sense of achievement, and since I finished the response of friends and family has been overwhelming.

“I am well on the way to raising £1,000 but I hope to get more than that. A lot of friends said they will give when they see me next back in the Philippines, so I think money will come in for many months yet.”

He said his most memorable moment of the journey in Cheshire, when he saw a 40ft straw Dalek, which was being build as part of the 50th anniversary of sci-fi programme Doctor Who.

“That was a brilliant sight to see,” he admitted. “It was enormous!”

Guy was raising money for the Cancer Research UK and Philippine-based humanitarian cause, Virlanie.

He dedicated his ride to the memory of his father, Maurice, who died from prostate cancer a few years ago.

Guy took a total of 31 days to complete the mammoth task, cycling for 26 days over 1,262 miles. Most days he would average almost 46 miles, with his longest stint in the saddle seeing him ride for more than 77 miles.

To donate to Guy, visit his JustGiving page at here.