A MANAGER at a York hospital has proven his pedal power after completing a gruelling 250-mile bike ride in Africa.

Richard Vanson, sales and services manager at Nuffield Health York Hospital, in Haxby Road, pedalled along part of Lake Malawi, located in Malawi in Southeastern Africa, as part of a group of 19 cyclists.

They completed the journey in six days and cycled in temperatures of up to 35 degrees.

As a group they have raised about £46,000 for the charity Open Arms Malawi, which provides medical attention, shelter, food and love to some of Malawi’s orphaned and abandoned children. It works to ensure that the children in its care have the chance to grow up with the love of a family and the security of a home.

Richard, who lives in Harrogate, said: “It was an amazing experience. They were a great group of people who I cycled with.

"It was very challenging but we got to do some amazing things.

“About 1,000 villagers did an opening ceremony for us. It’s something you never get to see. When we were cycling along we had kids waving at us.

“The people are amazing in Malawi. It’s a brilliant country.”

When the group reached the finish line they were presented with flags created by children at the Open Arms Malawi’s Blantyre infant home.

The charity returns, supports and monitors immunised and fit toddlers to their relatives when it can, creating families and avoiding institutional care.

Richard said: “They will often support the community through funding building of things like feeding stations, outreach programmes and nursery schools so that children can continue to thrive in their community when they return.

“We got to visit one of these projects and both of the care homes during the trip.

"It was amazing.”

The 38-year-old has organised a number of fundraising activities in the past to raise funds for Open Arms Malawi, including a quiz night, golf day and auction, as well as running the inaugural Yorkshire Marathon four years ago on behalf of the charity.