A FUNDRAISER from York has completed his 4,000-mile challenge almost three months ahead of target.

Phil Wiggins started the Wiggo 4,000 on his 40th birthday in October last year, to run, swim and cycle 4,000 miles in 12 months, and raise £4,000 for the Alzheimer's Society in 12 months, and had already passed his financial target before he took part in a London to Paris bike ride with friends.

Phil said: "We kept to country lanes and a winding scenic route, rather than just going direct like a most organised trips do. The first day in France we saw more tractors then cars as we travelled through tiny villages and past fields of corn, then 15 miles north of Paris we stopped for a few congratulatory hugs and a photo as I hit my target of doing 4000 miles.

"After three days and 300 miles of riding we arrived in Paris at the Louvre 30 minutes before the Tour De France riders entered the city, where we stood and watched the race before seeing the climax on Champs Elysees. What an amazing atmosphere."

Thanks to a little confusion in Paris, Phil also managed to meet up with some of the top cyclists to take part in the Tour de France, and had this picture taken with Roy Curvers, number two rider with Team Giant Shimano.

He said: "After a quick beer, we went in search of our hotel. Still wearing our cycling kit with matching tops we somehow stumbled into the riders paddock - or a load of parked buses as it initially appeared to us.

"Never shy in coming forward, we went to congratulate Marcel Kittel from Giant-Shimano, who had just won the stage, before telling the riders of my Wiggo 4000 exploits, and ended up joining their champagne celebrations for the next couple of hours! I think the TV cameras and photographers thought we were some second string team joining the party."

Phil said he was still going to continue running, swimming and cycling until October, to raise as much money as possible for the challenge, and has already reached about £7,000, with donations coming from unusual directions.

He said: "This weekend I attended a wedding at some very good friends of ours, who had a raffle during their speeches to raise money for me! How fantastic is that?"

To support Phil's challenge, go to justgiving.com/thewiggo4000