As a minister, he is trying to encourage more of us to get active and now Ray Harmer MHK has proved he is leading by example.

The Infrastructure Minister has just completed an 875-mile cycle from Land’s End to John o’ Groats.

Mr Harmer completed the cycle across the length of Britain with Simon Hall Anderson, his friend and neighbour from Peel.

In doing so, he has raised more than £3,000 towards Cancer Research UK, Peel Scouts and to help form a Men in Sheds organisation in Peel.

The two began their trip on Saturday, September 8, and finished at the weekend.

Mr Harmer told iomtoday.co.im: ’It was really hard, easily the hardest thing I have ever done.

’Having to get up each day and feeling so tired was a challenge and I was asking myself "Am I going to get through this?".

’We were out on the roads for about eight hours a day and would have a break during that time.’

The choices in the charities he supported reflected both a community and personal choice for Mr Harmer.

He revealed on his just giving page his father and sister both died early from cancer and his father-in-law is currently fighting the disease.

Mr Harmer said that when he first decided to take on the challenge, his family said he was ’mad’.

He added: ’My family did think I was mad, but they were really supportive throughout and that was such a help.

’I am admittedly not as fit as I could be, but luckily we’ve had a great summer so I was able to get out training in the evenings.

’This included riding up the Sloc and back down, that was really important for the challenging hills in Cumbria and the Highlands.’

Throughout the challenge, the pair travelled through some beautiful areas and encountered the variable British weather.

Mr Harmer said one of his favourite places was Cumbria describing it as ’absolutely stunning’.

He added: ’Cumbria was just spectacular, but in the Highlands, it was grey and foggy.

’But then when we dropped down a little bit, it just suddenly burst into this glorious sunshine.’

Despite enjoying the experience, Mr Harmer admitted he doesn’t see a career change into long distance cycling being very likely.

On finishing he posted on his fundraising page: ’Tricky hills soon gave way to flats, the rain stopped, the sun came out and we saw the Orkneys, so we knew the finish was in sight.

’The wind moved behind our back as we raced to the finish, I have never cycled faster.’

He added: ’I am saddle sore, in fact sore everywhere and very, very tired but it has been incredible. Thank you so much to everyone for all your support it has been amazing and pushed us through.’

To donate to Mr Harmer’s charities, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rayandsimonscycleforcancerresearch.

Or go to https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rayandsimonscycleforscoutsandmensinsheds.