FUNDRAISER Antony Butcher has completed the first leg of his solo bike ride across the United States.

He arrived in Chicago on Friday, May 20 having spent the previous month cycling over 1,300 miles through 12 states, climbing the equivalent of Mount Everest.

The 32-year-old, who works in student support at the University of Leeds, decided to take on the challenge in honour of his mother Teresa, who was diagnosed with MS when he was a teenager.

And in the last week he has reached his initial fundraising target of £20,000 for the MS Society.

He said: “I think the harsh reality with MS is that there is nothing you can do to change what is happening.

“When I was 15 years old, I knew what would happen to my mum.

“Over the last 15 years, I’ve seen her mobility stripped, I’ve seen the day that she stopped walking independently, the day that she started living in a wheelchair, the day she had to move into residential care, and when she had to move into nursing care.

“I can’t fix mum but by raising money I can help be a part of making a future where other people don’t have to go through the pain that we’ve gone through.”

Antony, of Ilkley, set off from Times Square in New York on April 23 and over the next two months he will ride another 2,500 miles, finishing in San Francisco in the middle of July. His journey will take him across the Rocky Mountains and through the desert in Nevada.

Antony said: “Although it’s been hard work, the last month has been an amazing adventure. I’ve met so many lovely people who have supported my ride, from giving me accommodation to paying for my food. I’ve also seen a broad slice of American life, from big cities to country towns and rural highways - this is a vast but beautiful country and I’ve seen so many amazing things.”

Antony aims to finish his bike ride on July 13, when he hopes to be reunited with his wife in San Francisco.

Follow Antony’s journey at www.facebook.com/antonyacrossamerica, www.instagram.com/antonyacrossamerica, or www.twitter.com/antonybutcher. He’ll also be sharing updates on his website, www.antonyjcbutcher.com.

If you’d like to sponsor Antony, you can do this at www.justgiving.com/antonyjcbutcher.