TWO cousins, Tim Braithwaite of Fernhurst and Barnaby Braithwaite, of Bristol, have completed an epic adventure – cycling to the south of France to mark their 50th birthdays and sleeping rough on route to raise £3,000 for Shelter.

Combining a joint love of biking and a love of France, along with Tim’s desire to bike-pack, Barn and Tim left Fernhurst on Thursday, July 22, at 6.30am to embark on their long-awaited adventure.

Cycling to the ferry and spending their first night in accommodation, they left the comforts of their beds and shelter behind to opt for sleeping out wherever they stop along the way with not much more than a tarpaulin, bivvy bag and mosquito net.

They literally had everything packed onto their road bikes, only stopping for food essentials and phone charging (and maybe the odd beer!) along the way.

Their mental capacity as well as their physical ability was tested to the maximum as they took on the hills of the south of France.

But they were blown away by people’s support, and were motivated the whole way by the kind donations pouring in for their chosen cause, the housing and homelessness charity Shelter.

Initially, they set a target of £500 which was smashed on the first day. And having completed their 800-mile odyssey on Monday, they have now passed the £3,000 mark.

Find out more via their individual Facebook pages and also Barn’s Instagram updates: @barneybb

Donations from this venture are going to Shelter: www.justgiving.com/itsallgoinsouth