Today, Saturday 30th October, Preston Park Cycle Club, VC Jubilee and friends hoped to cycle 1,900 miles – or the equivalent of Land’s End to John O’Groats and back – as part of a fundraising drive for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

In fact they smashed that ambition!

‎12,178 laps of Preston Park track were ridden. That is 4,430 miles, which is further than from Brighton to New York, let alone Lands End to John O'Groats.

Organiser Alistair Milne was behind the Pedal in Preston Park project following the loss of his wife Rachel in November 2009 to the condition. His two children who represent Preston Park CC and the Brighton Go-Ride club were keen to throw all their support behind the idea to raise as much money as possible.

A target of £10,000 was set with entrants young and old taking part as club members and newcomers united in order to complete that amazing feat.

Alastair said: “In November 2009 my wife Rachel died of Motor Neurone Disease (MND). She was 44. She had been diagnosed with MND two years previously.

“Watching a loved one succumb to this disease is an awful experience. Knowing that there is no cure for MND, or even any way of slowing its progression, makes that experience even worse. As a family we wanted to do something positive that will help the MND Association to care for families with MND while working to find treatments and a cure.

“In the spring of 2010, my son Hamish, daughter Robin and myself followed the achievements of parkour (freerunning) runner Johnny “Sticky” Budden as he ran, leapt, jumped and vaulted the 1,300 miles from John O’Groats to Paris to raise money for the MNDA. As a result, we talked about what we could do as a fundraising challenge and that’s how the idea of using our local cycle track came about.

“There are three charities that were important to Rachel in the last years of her life – the MND Association, Martlets Hospice and the Brighton Buddhist Centre.

"As a family we were helped and supported by all of them and it was Rachel’s wish that the work they all do would be supported after her death.

"When Rachel died the Rachel Evans-Milne Tribute Fund was set up as a permanent legacy to Rachel’s life, and as a means of making donations directly to the MND Association to provide funds for the years ahead.”

Well over a hundred riders, young and old, took part in the ride. Pumpkin soup and homemade cakes fuelled those legs to push way beyond their expected limit.

If you would like to make a contribution then donate at: www.justgiving.com/PPYCC-Pedal-in-Preston-Park To donate to the Rachel Evans-Milne Tribute Fund, visit http://rachel.evansmilne.muchloved.com/) Based on information supplied by Tina Duncumb.