A GROUP of friends have left East Lothian to cycle round an entire country in less than two weeks.

The adventurers flew out to Iceland yesterday (Thursday) and immediately got on their bikes as they attempted to cycle more than 850 miles for more than half a dozen charities.

Liam Law – one of the members of the Xtreme Walkies charity challenge team – was pleased to say they had passed their fundraising target of £10,000 before they had even flown out to Iceland.

He said: “We are just getting the last things prepared but we have been quite busy with fundraising events already.

“We have had different things every weekend and we have managed to raise £10,000 as well, so we are doing well.”

Quizzes and a family day have helped the team to pass the fundraising target, which will see money split between CHAS (Children’s Hospices Across Scotland), Teenage Cancer Trust Scotland, Beyond Boundaries East Lothian (BBEL), the Scottish SPCA, Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, Dogs Trust and Staffie Smiles Rescue.

Liam, who is from Tranent but now lives in Haddington, aree joined by Max Newcombe, David Lamb and Nicol Benn (all from Tranent), Adam Welsh (Pencaitland), Amber Karayel and Karly Watt (both from Musselburgh).

Also taking part is Scott van Schayk, who is driving a car with a repair kit for the seven amateur cyclists.

Liam said: “The weather has not been very good for training but we have had a few days out up the Lammermuirs.

“It is quite hard to train when you get home from work and you cannot go out and do 100 miles but you do what you can do. Everybody is doing what they can and in the final days everybody is taking a rest and taking it a bit easier.”

The group touched down in the Icelandic capital Reykjavik on Thursday and almost immediately headed out on their bikes.

Day one is a challenge of about 85 miles, with each day the cyclists pedalling between 80 and 100 miles.

Liam added: “[The first day] should, hopefully, be not too bad. It is one of the flatter days.”

Days two, three, four and five are more “gruelling” but Liam, who runs a dog walking business, was hoping the friendship between the eight fundraisers would help them through when the going got tough.

The friends are no strangers to fundraising, having previously conquered the Three Peaks Challenge and climbed Scotland’s 10 highest mountains in under 40 hours. Despite those successes, Liam described Iceland as “ a big challenge”.

To donate, go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/xtremewalkiescharity challenge