A Walsall cyclist who became the first to complete the famous Trans-Pennine Trail route in a hand powered cycle has been presented with a medal after raising more than £1,000 for charity.

Disability campaigner Andrew Moult, who has restricted mobility, took the challenge in a three-wheeled adapted hand cycle to raise funds for the charity Shine, which supports those with spina bifida and hydrocephalus.

He was joined by fellow team member Steve Price from Walsall Bike Project and support vehicle drivers Condessa Parke and Cllr Richard Worrall on the coast-to-coast trip from Southport to Hornsea over four days last month, also supported with spares by Russell Cycles Walsall. 

Now they have been presented with medals on behalf of Shine at a special meeting of the West Midlands Combined Authority’s (WMCA’s) transport delivery committee.

Mr Moult is a long-standing campaigner for disabled access on the region’s cycle routes and the transport delivery committee used to the presentation to explore the issue further.

He said: “I was motivated across the 215-mile Trans-Pennie trail by my wonderful team of support drivers in Steve, Condessa and Richard who supported me all the way and I couldn’t have made this a reality without them.

“I also thought about my initial promise to my sister, who is a spinal bifida sufferer herself, that I would complete this ride for her to highlight to others the amazing work that Shine are doing to enable people who struggle with the illness everyday to get the best out of their life.

"We've raised just over £1,100 so far but I'd love to make it to our £2000 goal. I'd encourage anyone who wants to support or find out more about Shine do to visit the Go Fund Me page.”

Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), is part of the WMCA, and the committee, which is made up of councillors from across the region, helps monitor the region’s transport network.

Cllr Worrall, who chairs the transport delivery committee, said: “This is a quite extraordinary achievement by Andrew, who, with support cyclist Steve Price, completed the 215-mile coast-to-coast ride across the Pennines in just four days. The amount of planning that went into the success of this venture is awesome. 

“Andrew has worked with officers of TfWM, Walsall Council and other bodies such as the Canal and River Trust to campaign for and promote a fully accessible network of safe cycling and walking routes in the West Midlands, and he and campaigning colleagues deserve all credit for their continuing efforts to achieve progress.”

West Midlands Cycling and Walking Commissioner Adam Tranter, who also attended the meeting said: “Andrew is an inspiration and highlights the importance of our active travel routes being accessible to everybody. His achievement on the 215-mile Trans-Pennine trail is the latest in many brilliant achievements on his hand-cycle. Whether it’s for recreation or transport, I want everybody to be able to benefit from active travel and that means making sure our routes work for people on adapted cycles.”