Brothers' Epic Feat For Charity

Oliver (left) and Graham Sills, from Bures, arrive at John o’ Groats from Land’s End (Picture submitted)

Cornwall, Scotland, September 05, 2006 – Cyclist and academic Graham Sills didn't need a PhD in maths to figure out pedaling 976 miles was going to take it out of him.

The Cambridge graduate student managed the gargantuan feat of biking from Land's End in Cornwall to John o' Groats, Scotland, in 16 days.

Graham, 22, took his younger brother, 16-year-old Oliver, along for the ride as they covered about 60 miles a day in a bid to raise £2,000 for a children's charity.

"It was my brother's idea originally. In fact, we both got the cycling bug during the rise, but I think he got it more than me.

"The highlight for me was in Scotland when we went through Glencoe. There was a long downhill which was very welcome," said Graham.

The Bures pair raised cash for SOS Children's Villages, a UK-based charity which raises money to help youngsters in villages throughout the world.

"We chose the charity because we could say exactly where we wanted it to go. We chose a village in Somaliland in East Africa."

Now Graham, who is studying for a PhD in maths at Trinity College, Cambridge, says he is even thinking of doing it again.

"Initially I thought there was no way I would, but now I am thinking we could do it faster. We did not use top-of-the-range expensive bikes, and we carried all our stuff. With a support team and better bikes, who knows how fast we might do it?"

To support the brothers and donate to their charity, go to www.justgiving.com/gandosills.

Source: The Sudbury Today

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