Black Country fundraisers given warm welcome home after tough cycle challenge

Ishtiaq Hussain and Matthew Lawley were welcomed back to the Deafscope headquarters in Lye by friends, family and colleagues after more than a month of tandem cycling around the coast of Wales.

The journey, which started in Stourbridge 34 days ago, has seen Ishtiaq and a number of partners ride 863 miles around the Welsh coast - a journey Ishtiaq said had been challenging but rewarding.

He said: "It's definitely been emotional and when I first started heading north towards Wales, I began to wonder if I was going to be able to carry on and finish the journey.

"There were so many uphill and downhill bits and doing it on a tandem bike is ready odd because you're working with two people and it feels really heavy.

"I did get quite homesick during the ride, but all the people on social media were really supportive, telling us to keep going and not give up, so although I'm exhausted, it's been a great experience."

Ishtiaq was the front rider for the whole journey, with Matthew assisting at the rear for 433 miles and Ernesto Bueno del Caprio, Miriam Makkar and Daniel Cripp also putting in shifts to help.

Miriam and Daniel both have Retinitis pigmentosis, an eye disease that can lead to total blindness, and Daniel completed five miles despite a knee injury.

The hardest parts were the hilly sections near Rhyl in North Wales and battling heavy weather with strong winds while riding down the coast, Ishtiaq said.

He added: "The best part was the coastline down in South Wales near the Mumbles as it was just a straight and flat road, with people riding alongside us and nice weather by the beach.

"The support we got from people in Wales as well was great, with people bringing up food and energy drinks, and the reception when we got back here was really lovely.

"I got emotional today and felt like I was going to tear up, but held it together and was so happy to make it back."

Ishtiaq said he hoped he could inspire deaf and deaf usher people to get on their bikes and feel like part of the community.

He said: "It has had a massive positive impact on the lives of the people who have been feeling isolated over the past few months.

"It has given them a new lease of life and motivation in getting active and staying healthy."

The Deafscope Link CIC Epic Bike Ride Active Life=Healthy Minds challenge fund raiser has now come to an end, but people can still donate to the cause.

To make a donation, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ishtiaq-hussain-and-daniel-jay-cropp