A HOOK dad piled on the pedal power to complete a gruelling cycle challenge in memory of his friend last month.

Father-of-one Ian Hick, of Beechcrest View, took part in a 305-mile 24-hour cycle challenge between Newcastle and London on August 21 in a bid to raise much-needed funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society in memory of friend Simon Hughes.

Ian and Simon first met when they were working together at RAF Odiham, with Ian describing him as a “really fit guy” before he was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

More than 100,000 people in the UK currently have MS which is a condition where the coating around the nerve fibres is damaged and causes a range of symptoms.

Simon, of Old Basing, died in May 2013, aged 53, following a heart attack.

Ian, who is 45 and is now based at Gibraltar Barracks, in Camberley, completed the challenge, which was over seven stages, just over the 24-hour target time.

The father-of-one has already smashed his £500 fundraising target – raising £1,680 so far.

He told The Gazette: “We endured all weathers from really warm to very, very wet and with a decent hailstorm thrown in for good measure.

“Despite doing a lot of training I don’t think there’s anything that can prepare you for the shear tedium and discomfort of long distance cycling. Indeed I ended up on my own for the first 120-140 miles, which seemed to last an eternity.”

Ian added: “We all suffered extreme lows at different times, but thankfully the group rallied around and helped each other along... It becomes a test of mental rather than physical strength.”

To donate to Ian’s appeal, visit justgiving.com/Ian-Hick1.