FAMILY SUPPORT: Dan Benton with his wife Michaela. Mr Benton said he couldn't have completed his 24-hour cycle challenge without the support of family and friends. Photo: NADINE MORTON 1011nmcycle4
OVER a 24-hour period Orange triathlon coach Dan Benton has eaten two pizzas, a burger, a sausage sandwich, more lollies than he can count and also cycled over 300 kilometres all to help out a mate.
It was a gruelling 24-hour period according to Mr Benton but well worth it.
He set himself the arduous challenge to help out his friend Toby Te Rupe whose young daughter is undergoing chemotherapy treatment in Sydney.
The Central Western Daily witnessed him pedal his last few kilometres and it was a grateful man that eventually stepped down off the bike at 10am yesterday.
“I just think how lucky I am with my family and friends,” he said.
It was the support of his family and friends during the challenge that was vital in getting him through the long hours, according to Mr Benton.
“I had people with me the whole time ... at midnight I had 10 people there,” he said.
Although thanks to exhaustion, junk food and a lack of sleep, Mr Benton said he did have a few bad moments with a bad tummy.
“They brought too many lollies, it was no wonder I had problems,” he said.
“There was some long hours there.”
With the challenge now complete, a sore and tired Mr Benton is back in the arms of his supportive family and ready for a good sleep.
Fundraising totals were still being finalised yesterday afternoon.
Dan Benton’s 24-hour cycle challenge:
n Calories burned - 4465
n Kilometres pedalled - 377.7
n Average speed - 17.6km/h
n Maximum speed - 35.1km/h
n Weight lost - 500 grams