Marathon Wellington cyclist Jason Bowie, 46, has completed a ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats, raising £2,500 for a charity close to his heart, the M E Association.

Family friend Claire Ayshford-Smy is living with the debilitating effects of ME yet has been an inspiration to many during lockdown, devising quizzes and hosting them via Zoom every week for over a year.

The quizzes, which have a different theme – and fancy dress option – each week, have raised nearly £3,000 for the charity. The ride was Jason’s way of thanking Claire for her efforts and adding to funds.

ME is a serious neurological condition, which causes swelling of the brain and spinal cord, for which there is no treatment and no cure.

The UK has about a quarter of a million known sufferers and of those about 25 per cent are bed-bound.

It is believed ME is often triggered by a viral infection and it has been found it can also be caused by Covid-19 resulting in what has become known as Long Covid.