London couple complete epic 12,000-mile charity cycle ride in up to 55C heat

Epic journey: Emily Conrad-Pickles and James Davis at the finish in Cape Town. They cycled through 25 countries

A London couple have raised £23,000 for a charity that gives bikes to children in rural Africa by cycling 12,000 miles from the capital to Cape Town.

Emily Conrad-Pickles and James Davis set off last July and have travelled through 25 countries.

They have endured temperatures of 55C in Sudan, cycled to more than 10,000 feet in the mountains of Ethiopia and burned roughly 60,000 calories each.

At one point, it looked unlikely that Ms Conrad-Pickles would finish after she suffered a severe electrolyte imbalance, causing heart problems.

She was hospitalised in Nairobi, Kenya, but made a full recovery. The couple — who spent two years planning the trip after deciding to embark on the challenge on their second date — completed it last week and were joined by British High Commissioner to South Africa, Dame Judith Macgregor, and theconsul-general in Cape Town, Ed Roman, for the final 120km into Cape Town.

Mr Davis, 36, and Ms Conrad-Pickles, 33, live in Wandsworth and work in marketing. They were raising money for World Bicycle Relief, which gives bikes to children to enable them to get to school.

The charity provides specially designed, locally assembled “Buffalo Bikes”. Research by the charity shows student attendance increases by up to 28 per cent and grades by 59 per cent when children are given a bike.

Healthcare workers reach 40 per cent more patients and can see them more regularly. One bike costs £95. Ms Conrad-Pickles said: “It has been amazing and we have seen so many things.”

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