Peak District teenager David Cook was back at his Baslow home this week savouring the delights of his mum’s cooking and the luxury of his own bed after a five-month, 10,000-mile gruelling charity cycle-ride through most of Europe.

And as he relaxed with family and friends, the 19-year-old former Lady Manners School student admitted: "It's great to be home. It feels weird after living by the roadside for so long. My cooking on tour almost finished us off and living in a tent by the side of the road all those months has certainly taken away the novelty of camping but I've learned a lot about myself, other people and their cultures, the value of a supportive family - and the benefits of being English."

Peak District teenagers David Cook of Baslow and Matthew Gibson of Hathersage have reached Athens, the half-way point in a 10,000 mile charity fund-raising cycle marathon through Europe.

Matthew (18) a former student at Hope Valley College and the Sixth form at Lady Manners School, Bakewell, has now returned home, as per the original plan, while David (19), who also attended Lady Manners School, has been joined for the return leg by Luke Johnson (19), of Baslow, a former student at St Mary’s School in Chesterfield and now an undergraduate at Imperial College, London.

Staff Accommodation and the Utility Building now completed.
Generator shed built and generator installed and working.
Final construction work underway.
Two more Auxiliary Nurses start their 2-year S.E.N training course.

Two Peak District teenagers on a gruelling 10,000 mile charity bike ride through most of the countries of Europe are currently facing one of their biggest challenges so far – unexploded landmines.

In return for the tremendous effort that David Cook, Matthew Gibson and later Luke Johnson, will have made to raise money for the Kankudibi Health Clinic, in The Gambia, we will endeavour to keep you informed of the progress they are making as they cycle 10,000 miles through Europe.

This is the first report, after they have been cycling for a fortnight and have travelled down through France and are now in Spain.