FORMER England and Somerset batting star Marcus Trescothick OBE has described the fund raising efforts of Richard Brice and Joe Mason for the Alzheimers Society as really fantastic, writes Richard Walsh.

The dynamic duo both completed the challenges they set themselves during the month of February in aid of the Alzheimers Society as a result of which they raised £2,600 for this very worthwhile cause.

During last month Richard sat on his exercise bike and cycled the distance from his shop in Paignton to the home of Somerset County Cricket Club in Taunton, via the Mountbatten Nursing Home in Taunton (over 50 miles). 

Meanwhile in Burnham on Sea, Joe swam a total of 1400 lengths of the 25metre pool, which is the equivalent of the English Channel.

To complete his challenge Richard cycled the final two miles to the Somerset County Sport Shop at the Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton where he met up with Joe, who’d recently completed his ‘Channel Swim.”

 Marcus who backed the fund raising duo said afterwards: “All three of us know the sadness and devastation that dementia can cause both to the individual who is suffering, and also the wider family.”

The local hero added: “To have raised so much is a really fantastic effort by Richard and Joe - very well done.”