Peter Wilby, chairman of insurance and risk management specialist Wilby Ltd has taken part in a 70 mile sponsored bike ride which will raise over £100,000 for a variety of charities including Heart Research UK, Childline and St Johns Ambulance.

Mr Wilby himself raised over £2,000 and said that he had his friends and business contacts to thank for supporting him and sponsoring him. He thanked contacts in Calderdale and Kirklees for sponsoring him in the 2008 Great Yorkshire Charity Bike Ride.

And of course he did not set off on his 70 mile trip without bike insurance. As a keen rider and regular participant in the event, Mr Wilby, insurance specialist, was fully insured for his charity bike ride.

The event attracts over 1,500 riders each year and covers a route which winds up and down hills and sharp bends beginning at the small town of Wetherby and finishing up near to the little village of Filey in Yorkshire.

Mr Wilby proudly spoke of his achievement in beating his fund-raising total from last year, saying: "As this is the 25th anniversary of the ride and as my rider number was the prestigious number one, I was determined to beat my previous fund-raising for this event.”

"The sponsorship I have received from friends in businesses throughout Calderdale and Kirklees has been fantastic and although money is still coming in I have already broken my previous best of £2,000,” he enthused over his achievement.

Finally the happy insurance boss added that "I've participated in this event for the last 15 years and never raised as much money, so I am delighted."