A survival equipment technician based at RAF Odiham rode his bicycle 400 miles over four days between four RAF stations in memory of his RAF rugby league team-mate.

Cpl Samuel Roberts, 29, from Lowton in Warrington, has been in the RAF for nine years. He took on the challenge to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Rugby League Benevolent Fund.

Sam's team-mate Scott 'Stevo' Stevenson died in 2019 aged 25 from a subdural haematoma, a blood clot on the brain caused during a rugby league game against the Army in which he was tackled 21 times. Four of the tackles resulted in impacts to his head.

Sam's ride began on September 13 at RAF Odiham and ended last Saturday in Harrogate, where he laid the 'Stevo Game Ball' at Stevo's grave.

Sam and Stevo met on a pre-recruit training course in 2013, bonding over their love of rugby league and joining the RAF rugby league association.

Sam said: "I remember watching him play for the first time when the RAF played the Royal Navy at RAF Cranwell; he was unbelievable! Stevo was always involved in the first team plans straight off due to his talent, and it wasn't until 2017 when I started to be introduced into the first team that we became proper team-mates.

"Stevo had, and still has, a massive impact on the RAF rugby league association, and I wanted to create something to keep this inspirational and kind-hearted soul in our thoughts.

"It was over one night while looking through Stevo's Instagram photos that I generated the thought of creating a challenge in honour of Stevo and his remarkable family, and thus 'Cycle for Stevo' was born.

Sam has raised more than £3,000 to date for his two chosen charities. People can donate to Sam's fundraiser for the RAF Benevolent Fund at https://www.justgiving.com/team/cycleforstevo