Thatcham teenager sets off on charity bike ride

Max Benson, aged 17, set off on a 1,017 mile journey from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for skin cancer research last week, covering 87 miles in the first day.
Max, who attends Radley College in Oxfordshire, is part of a three-man team made up of fellow pupils Henry Tregear and Ollie Atkins.
Together, they are hoping to raise £4,500 for It Takes Seven, a skin cancer fundraising campaign set up by skin research charity, the British Skin Foundation.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK, and seven people die every day from the disease. The money raised by the fundraising trio will go towards research into skin cancer.
Max’s uncle was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, in 2012, while Ollie’s grandfather lost his life to malignant melanoma, the least common but most serious form of skin cancer, last year.
Max said: “We decided to face this challenge because we want to make a positive impact upon the lives of future skin cancer sufferers.
“Ollie’s grandfather and my uncle, who both had skin cancers, have inspired us and given us a real motivation to attempt something huge like this”.
The boys hope to complete the challenge within 14 days.
Their ride is being supported by Unbeatable Hire, who have offered one of their motorhomes to the boys at a reduced rate.
To make a donation visit the boy’s fundraising page www.ittakesseven.org.uk/team/profile/lejog-2014-g-social