Coseley stepfather and son's exercise bike challenge raises funds for mental health support
A stepfather and son have paid for 19 people to receive mental health support after carrying out a 110 mile bike ride.
Ben Hanbury, 32, and his stepson James Shuker, 12, lapped up the miles on an exercise bike at their home in Coseley, over the weekend of November 21 and 22.
The end result has seen the duo, who are both Wolves fans, raise £1,155 for the mental healthy charity Mind.
They had initially set a fundraising target of £195, which would have paid for three people to undergo cognitive behaviour therapy, but the overall funding will now support 19 patients.
Mr Hanbury said he and James came up with the initiative following the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdown, which has brought strain on people's mental health and wellbeing.
He said: "This is more than we ever dreamed of fundraising.
"With everything that has gone on this year, everybody struggles, but with people who already have mental health issues, it has just made things harder for them.
"We are trying to raise money for so people can get help and get back on the right track."
He added: "We weren't expecting the challenge to be easy because it was not something we were used to.
"We borrowed an exercise bike off my friend and the most we had done between us was half an hour, so it was quite a challenge.
"We managed it but we were aching over the next few days.
"We took it in turns. I did like an hour and James did some time after that.
"I did four and a half hours and James did two hours in total to get the miles."
In total, the duo have received £1,294 when Gift Aid, which is a UK tax incentive, is added on top.
