KEEN cyclists have raised more than £ 40,000 for kidney patients through a tower to tower challange.

Father-of-three Jonathan Lenney, of Grange-over-Sands, was one of 29 fund-raisers who covered the 500-mile bike ride from Blackpool Tower to the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, for The National Kidney Research Fund.

Celia Smith, of Windermere, also completed the Tower to Tower Cycle Challenge 2000, which took in the diverse countryside of Lancashire, Staffordshire, Oxfordshire and Sussex, continuing from Dieppe to Paris after a short sea crossing.

Mr Lenney, director of human resources for Morecambe Bay Health Trust, admitted that he had "thoroughly enjoyed" the ride.

"There was never a point when I felt I wouldn't complete the challenge but I have never done anything like it before," he said, explaining that although he sometimes cycled up to 70 miles a day, he had never had to get up the following day and do it all again.

And then again.

"There was a mixed bunch of people taking part, with some in their seventies.

I thought if they can compete it - I can," continued Mr Lenney.

"I would do it again, and some people were even talking about doing a longer ride from Blackpool to Paris, and on to the Leaning Tower of Pisa."

The money raised will fund research work into kidney disease and provide invaluable support to kidney patients and their families.

On completion of the challenge the participants were presented with a certificate of achievement and treated to a celebration dinner in a Parisian restaurant.

Mrs Smith, who was enjoying her first visit to the French capital before dashing back to attend her son's graduation, unknowingly made a big impression on challenge organisers.

National events manager of the charity Narissa Frost said: "Celia did really well - in fact she was one of the stars of the cycle ride because she had one of the heaviest bikes, but just kept going and going."

Ms Frost added how overwhelming the response had been to the challenge, which demanded "a lot of will and stamina."

"We are very much indebted to the dedicated cyclists who have made this year's challenge possible," she told the Gazette.