BEN knows a little bit about cycling - we are hosting a 24hr Cycle Challenge on 16 March. A person that knows more about cycling is Tom Blakeman - in fact Tom knows an awful lot about cycling. If distance travelled on a bike was a measure of one's knowledge of the topic Tom would be a member of Mensa's cycling club.

January 10 saw Tom embark on what can only be described as the Tour de New Zealand, a mammoth 1800 kilometre bike ride starting in Tauranga on the northern Island and ending in Invercargill on the southern island in an attempt to raise money for BEN, the automotive industry charity.

Tom was averaging around 100km a day as he travelled through New Zealand's diverse terrain; terrain ranging from glaciers, picturesque fiords, vast plains, rolling hillsides, volcanic plateaus and miles of gorgeous coastline. This astonishing pace was maintained for 8 days, until Tom sustained a knee injury that would eventually see him cut his trip short.

Tom managed to ride an amazing 800 kilometres from Tauranga where he started to his end destination of West Port, a town on the west coast of the southern island. So far Tom has managed to raise an outstanding £250 for BEN but you can still show your support for his amazing achievement at his Just Giving site - www.justgiving.com/Tomridesnewzealand.

BEN is very grateful for all the effort Tom went to during his fundraising adventure and congratulates him on his achievement.

Thank you Tom!