Antony completes first leg of epic charity ride

Local fundraiser Antony Butcher recently completed the first leg of his solo bike ride across the United States, arriving in Chicago on Friday the 20th May.

Over the last month Antony has cycled over 1300 miles through 12 states, climbing the equivalent of Mount Everest. Antony is raising money for multiple sclerosis, and in the last week has reached his initial fundraising target of £20,000 for charity. Antony, who lives in Ilkley, set off from Times Square in New York on the 23rd of April.

Over the next two months Antony will ride another 2500 miles, finishing in San Francisco in the middle of July. His journey will take him across the Rocky Mountains and through the desert in Nevada.

Antony is primarily raising funds for the MS Society, a cause that is close to his heart as his mum has been living with MS for over thirty years, and now lives in a local nursing home.

Antony says “Although it’s been hard work, the last month has been an amazing adventure. I’ve met so many lovely people who have supported my ride, from giving me accomodation to paying for my food. I’ve also seen a broad slice of American life, from big cities to country towns and rural highways - this is a vast but beautiful country and I’ve seen so many amazing things.”

If you’d like to follow Antony’s journey you can do this at www.facebook.com/antonyacrossamerica, www.instagram.com/antonyacrossamerica, or www.twitter.com/antonybutcher. He’ll also be sharing updates on his website, www.antonyjcbutcher.com. If you’d like to sponsor Antony, you can do this at www.justgiving.com/antonyjcbutcher.

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