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Sports editor completes epic cycle challenge

A journalist has completed a 600 mile bike ride to raise thousands of pounds for Children in Need.

John Pakey, sports editor on Northcliffe title the Lincolnshire Echo, rode from Lincoln’s twin town of Neustadt in Germany to Lincoln with Rob Whiting and Louise Wheeler from the BBC Radio Lincolnshire breakfast show.

Around 200 people turned out to welcome the team home on Friday.

The challenge left them exhausted but saw them raise £20,000.

Said John: “We were all absolutely exhausted, but when you get a welcome back like that you forget everything.”

He said the amount of people that had turned out was completely surreal and just went show how much a county can come together.

The team were stopped on the road numerous times by people wanting to donate money and support them.

Added John: “When I met my parents in Essex it made me realise how lucky I was to have such a good upbringing and some children just don’t get that.

“We think we must have raised £20,000 but we don’t know exactly until we get everything in.

“It has been so challenging, but at the same time equally as brilliant. It is not too late to donate to such a good cause.”

All the money raised will be donated to Children In Need.

This year’s Children In Need program will be broadcast on BBC 1 on Friday 18 November.

You can still donate money to John and his team online here.