A group of cyclists riding from Richmond, Surrey, to Richmond, North Yorkshire, were welcomed to Westminster by their MP Rishi Sunak.
The eight riders were raising money for the bells of St Mary’s Church in the North Yorkshire Richmond.
The team – Glenys Jones, Glenys Rogers, John Welch, Yvonne Armitage, Andrew Slade, Peter Trewby and James and Barbara Gravenor – set off from Richmond, Surrey, on Monday calling at the Houses of Parliament to meet Mr Sunak and also Baroness Hale of Richmond.
Mr Sunak said: “I was delighted to meet the team and to wish them well for the rest of their journey. St Mary’s is a most beautiful church and the sound of its bells an important part of the town’s living heritage.
On their way home to Richmond, North Yorkshire, they were stopping at village churches, Waltham Abbey and Lincoln Cathedral to ring the bells.
The St Mary’s Bells fundraising appeal was launched in May 2015 in order to refurbish the ancient bell tower and replace some of the bells.
The group is just £20,000 short of the total needed – and hope the cycling challenge will inspire people to get them to the finishing line.
They aim to arrive in Richmond on Bank Holiday Monday.