YOUNG farmers harnessed pedal power and raised more than £5,000 for three charities in 24 hours.

The spinathon saw young farmers from Eden Valley YFC cycle through the night.

Held before the lockdown, beginning at 8pm on Friday March 6, members of Eden Valley Young Farmers’ Club took it in turns to do 30-minute stints. After a night’s furious pedalling at Kirkby Thore Memorial Hall, they welcomed members of the public for tea, coffee, cake and a raffle.

The exercise bikes were ridden until Saturday at 8pm, with the final tally raised from the event £5,108.22 to go to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Child Bereavement UK and Send a Cow. An official cheque presentation will take place in the future, but for now members have sent monies raised straight to the charities concerned.

Members would like to say a big thank you to the following: Businesses who sponsored, donated lots and raffle prizes; sponsors and supporters, who bought cakes, raffle tickets, auction lots and beverages; Appleby Sports Centre for the loan of the bikes; Kirkby Thore Memorial Hall for the use of the hall and run the event; George Slack for being auctioneer; Absolutely for performing at a reduced cost; Advisory members for running the bar and finally, all advisory, members past and present and future, who took a stint on the bikes and helped with the running of the event.

Meanwhile, Wigton Young Farmers Club held their very first ‘virtual’ club meeting and took part in a half-hour PiYo taster workout. PiYo is a mixture of pilates and yoga and is choreographed to music, with young farmers concentrating on their arms, legs and core body.

Members said how important exercise was for not only physical health, but mental health, which is important at the moment.