Melksham woman cycles length of Britain in memory of grandma

A Melksham woman has completed a 1,000-mile solo cycle across Britain in memory of her grandma Cheryl Decarteret who died following a collision in the town centre last year.

Lilly Charman, 21, set off from John O’Groats on Thursday 11th June and reached Land’s End on Friday 10th July, where she was welcomed by family.

She described the experience as ‘incredible’ and ‘freeing’ and has raised nearly £1,000 for Southmead Hospital.

During the journey, Lilly battled extreme heat, heavy rain, food poisoning and a broken bike, as well as being attacked by birds which damaged her tent and belongings.

She said, “I would 1000% do something like this again. I would just love to do more cycles and big hikes. I think everybody should try it at least once, it’s incredible.”

Cycling was new to Lilly before the challenge and this was the first time she had attempted anything of this nature.

She said there were emotional moments during the journey but she kept reminding herself that she had to continue.

“I just kept thinking, ‘well, you’ve got to get it done’ and that there was nobody there who was going to save me, so I just had to trust myself and push forwards and through the challenges.

“The first night I was attacked by birds which ripped up all my things and dragged my tent down the beach. It was quite bad and I was quite upset but following on from there, it got a lot easier and there were no more bird incidents.

“I did have a few nights where I thought someone was outside my tent, so that was scary but then you just get used to it.”

Lilly said the West Coast of Scotland was the highlight of the trip, with the landscapes and scenery making the challenge worthwhile.

“It was so incredible and so rural. Each part of the country has its own charm with different mountains and landscapes, forests, beaches and farms; it’s so beautiful and it has been so great.”

Lilly said she chose cycling because her grandma often used the phrase ‘get on your bike’.

“My grandma was very hard-working and very independent and she really drilled it into us that if you want something you have to work hard for it,” she said. “Whenever we would say we wanted something she would say ‘get on your bike’, so that is why I am getting on my bike.”

Cheryl, 79, and her best friend of 60 years, Margaret Shaw, were struck by a van reversing outside Savers in Lowbourne in September.