A LIPHOOK athlete was among a team that successfully set a new static cycling world record and so raised more than £37,000 to be split between four charities.

Annick Simon de Froimon, a former marathon runner, and 14 others beat the previous 28-hour record for ’spinning,’ as static cycling is known, over the weekend to capture the record on Sunday.

They rode at a gym in London for 29 hours in support of four charities MIND, Copperfeel, The Mintridge Foundation and NHS Charities Together.

The event was the brainchild of Annick’s friend, Jackie Scully, who celebrated her 40th birthday on Saturday, the day the challenge started.

She was determined to turn her 40th birthday into a big opportunity to raise money and awareness for the amazing charities.

This after she feared she wasn’t going to celebrate her 40th birthday at all, after being diagnosed with cancer at the age of 32.

She has overcome that and is now attempting huge endurance challenges makes her feel alive, particularly after having her hip rebuilt in her 20s.

Annick said: "As the person being held responsible for making Jackie do these ridiculous challenges, I felt it only right that I join in and support her lunatic endeavour.

"At 59 I should know better and act my age not my shoe size, but I don’t, and doubt I ever will.

"We’ve all been training hard for months, and it was probably the toughest challenge both physically and mentally I’ve taken on."

Annick and Jackie first met after hip socket reconstructive surgery about seven years ago to discuss running marathons and how to go about it after their surgery, and have been friends ever since.

You can learn more about Jackie and the challenge and support the fundraising at the web-link https://donate.giveasyoulive.com/fundraising/partywithapurpose