Riders make it to desert city of Petra

MADE it . . . Graham Kelly, right, and friend Rick Hudson, celebrate reaching the end of their charity cycle ride to Petra

A saddle-sore Chadderton cyclist is celebrating after he and a friend biked through the desert to raise £5,500 for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Lorry driver Graham Kelly (35) and friend Rick Hudson, from Audenshaw, spent a week in Jordan biking through deserts, fertile plains, historic sites and the shores of the Dead Sea.

They cycled for five days earlier this month, covering 250 miles, and starting in Amman, the capital, before heading into the desert.

The trip included a castle used by Lawrence of Arabia, the Dead Sea, and passed Mount Nebo, where Moses was shown the Promised Land.

They camped in Bedouin tents before joining trekkers and horseriders to cross the finish line at the ancient city of Petra.

Graham, a bachelor, said: “It is probably one of the best things I have ever done.

“The first two days we were in the middle of the desert with nothing to see but rocks and sand, then we went down to the Dead Sea, which was amazing.

“There were 23 men and women on the trip and everyone had a different story about why they were doing it, because of family or friends.

“The Jordanian people were really helpful, and we had a local team providing transport and chefs, and we were dining al fresco out of the back of vans.

“I only had one puncture, and I’d definitely go back again.”