Strangers join man on 874-mile tandem challenge

People have joined Cameron Fillery on his tandem for between two and 15 miles (3.21 and 24.1km)

A man cycling from John O’Groats to Lands End has been joined on his tandem by total strangers.

Cameron Fillery, from Brighton, took on the unique challenge in support of a friend who experienced suicidal thoughts a number of years ago.

“I suggested we go on a bike ride and then it spiralled into taking a tandem down the length of the UK,” said Mr Fillery.

His friend was unable to join the trip, so Mr Fillery has been asking people to get in the saddle for a few miles and share their life stories after he set off from Scotland on May 25.

The 25-year-old told BBC Radio Sussex: “The first day, I was door-knocking around John O’Groats because not many people live there."

Overcoming fears

He met a man named Chris, who cycled on the tandem for 15 miles.

Since then, nearly two dozen more people, including a number of Mr Fillery’s friends, have joined him.

“I wanted to get over this fear of going up and having a chat with people,” he said.

Half the money raised during the journey will be donated to mental health charity Mind and the remaining amount to a charity chosen at the end of the journey.

Mr Fillery, a former athlete, said he is taking on the challenge now after retiring from sports.

As part of his journey across the UK, he cycled in the London to Brighton bike ride on Sunday and is at the BBC Radio Sussex offices on Monday.

He will then be heading Cornwall and his journey will finish in two weeks.