NEWTON Abbot-born Esther Amery and her friend Leigh-Anne Crossley, from Middlesbrough, have set off on a challenging 9,000km bike ride across South East Asia to raise money for the mental health charity, Mind. The pair will be cycling through four countries – Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia – and while on their journey the duo will be participating in volunteer projects.

IT has been an exhausting seven days for Esther Amery, from Newton Abbot, and Leigh-Anne Crossley who are cycling through South East Asia on a charity bike ride for the mental health charity, Mind, writes Sam Hall.

The duo have been cycling for a whole week without a day’s rest, cycling up mountains with 2,800m high peaks and avoiding muddy potholes but they have managed to overcome their obstacles and carry on.

Esther explained that Sunday was the most challenging day so far as she and her best friend cycled 58km in cold tropical rain that didn’t stop all day as well as picking up a puncture on both bikes due to broken glass in the road.

As the pair are both teachers they jumped at the chance to visit a local school.

Esther said: ‘We stayed in a small village and were very fortunate to be invited to visit the local school.

‘It was an eye-opener to see the lack of facilities and resources, however, the children appeared happy and eager to learn.’

The cyclists had a bit of a scare when they thought they were going to have to turn around to get their visas sorted so they could enter Vietnam but fortunately a new waiver allowing UK residents to enter the country has been put in place so they passed through stress free.

Last week the friends had already reached their target of £1,000 after being only days in and decided to double their target to £2,000.

You can donate money to the charity online at www.justgiving.com/Esther-Amery.