AMATEUR cyclists pedalled around the edge of Cumbria and raised thousands of pounds to provide music therapy for disabled people.

A group of friends known as Challenge 24 completed the 275-mile circuit in less than 24 hours on Friday and hosted a family fun day on Saturday. They raised about £10,000 for Annie Mawson’s Sunbeams Music Trust, which provides music therapy for children and adults with disabilities.

Challenge 24 started when they ran from Newcastle to Whitehaven in 2013 and last year they climbed 21 peaks – both in 24 hours. Their latest efforts bring the fundraising total to about £50,000 – all of which has been donated to Sunbeams.

Paul Seager, 32, of Loop Road, Whitehaven, is one of the Challenge 24 group and organised Saturday’s fun day at Lowca Rugby Club. He said: “It’s probably, physically, the most difficult thing I’ve ever done. We’re not all cyclists. It was new to a lot of us.

“Most of us didn’t even have a bike when we signed up for it so we had to put a bit of training in. For the non-cyclists it was quite a difficult challenge.”

They were started off by the mayor of Copeland, Mike Starkie, at midnight on Thursday from Whitehaven Harbour where 22 hours and five minutes later they completed the challenge. About 100 people attended the family fun day where there was an auction, bouncy castle and children’s games.

Annie said: “It’s just life-changing for so many of the people we provide music therapy to. I can’t praise them enough. They were just fabulous. They’re a wonderful bunch who love to help Sunbeams help disabled children and adults.”