A FOOTBALL-MAD duo are getting on their bikes and riding more than 700 miles to raise money for Cancer Research.
Joe Dennison and Dan Copley are cycling between the 20 biggest football grounds in the country – and have already raised nearly £1,500.
The duo started in March and have been tackling the journeys in stages, while also taking on their GCSE exams, with the final journey to Southampton coming up at the start of July.
Joe Dennison, 16, who supports Nottingham Forest and lives in the Vale of Belvoir, said: "We've done it in six legs and we've done four of the legs so far. We've done about 450 miles of the 719 miles.
"Last weekend we started off at Derby and went down to Aston Villa, then to Coventry and Leicester."
For the duo, the efforts are inspired by personal circumstances.
Joe said: "Dan and I have both been affected by cancer – my grandpa died about four years ago and that was from cancer. I've always wanted to do something to support other people with it.
"My friend Dan's auntie passed away from cancer and his family have tried to do things for cancer research, so we wanted to do something to capture people's attention."
He added: "With us being 16 and having exams, that's had people taking notice."
The young riders have both finished their GCSEs and are heading to sixth form and college next, and the cycling was as tough a test as the exams.
Joe said: "We're not really keen cyclists – that's really added to the challenge.
"We've found it tricky, and a lot of it was because we started in March in the North East and it was really bad weather. On the first day it was snowing and the paths were icy.
To support the fundraising efforts, go to: www. justgiving.com/joe-and-dan
