11:25am Wednesday 27th August 2008
An intrepid cyclist from Earlsfield has finished a 3,000 mile ride across America in memory of his mum.
Matt Dowse, 37, joined friend Andy Wyeth, 40, in raising around ₤20,000 for Leukaemia Research and The Royal Marsden Hospital during their 20-day adventure.
The pair, who both lost mothers to cancer, peddled from San Diego to Atlantic City, enduring steep mountain slopes, punctures and intense heat.
Mr Dowse said: “It was about 120F in Calfornia, and there was snow in the Rockies. In Kansas it was a long straight road and we only encountered three people in one day.
“I was pretty ill at the end of the first week from dehydration and we didn't think we were going to make it but we got our heads down and it turned out all right in the end.”
The cyclists, who nearly killed themselves covering around 200 miles per day, became worried when it looked like they were being followed by hungry eagles.
The birds turned out to be their lucky mascots however, as the trip finished earlier than expected, in just 19 days.
The Franche Court Road resident, added: “Best bit was Colorado- the mountains are beautiful and the views are stunning. Arizona was special too, and of course reaching the Atlantic at the end.”
Mr Dowse’s mother, Pippa, was looked after at the Royal Marsden Hospital before she died at the age of 66 in 2005.
•: To sponsor the ride, click here
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