John Heeler with his fundraising cycling friends Richard Matthews and John Poulton

A cycling challenge dreamt up by a creative Lichfield businessman four years ago has finally been achieved.

John Heeler with his fundraising cycling friends Richard Matthews and John Poulton
John Heeler with his fundraising cycling friends Richard Matthews and John Poulton

John Heeler and two friends completed their Little Ben Lichfield To Big Ben London challenge at the weekend, raising hundreds of pounds for We Love Lichfield in the process.

The ride took place in the blistering heat on Sunday (July 8), covering around 140 miles in a day as they travelled from the city to the capital.

John, who heads up Lichfield creative design agency Straightforward, said they are now considering making it annual fundraising ride.

“We left at 4am and in total it took us around 12 hours, with a few breaks inbetween to make sure we kept hydrated in the heat,” he said.

“But every mile was worth it and we had so much fun, it really was a dream achieved and knowing now that we can do it means we have plenty more plans for the future.”

John added he had dreamt up the idea of cycling from the clock tower in Lichfield to Big Ben around four years ago and so knew it would be something he wanted to achieve.

“When we then were discussing ideas for fundraising for We Love Lichfield I knew instantly that I could marry this with the ride,” he said. “I’ve been involved with the charity for the past three years and have seen the incredible work they do with not only raising the profile of a city I was raised in, but also helping the various charities in and around it.

“It was an adventure of a lifetime and now there is talk about doing it annually, and hopefully getting more of us on the ride.”

Simon Price Patron of We Love Lichfield said: “We are so proud of the trio for all their hard work.

“The money raised will all go to fantastic causes and it sounds like it was quite the adventure.”

People can still donate to the fundraising effort online.

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.