A fitness festival designed to raise awareness and funds for Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association broke two world records last month, as participants pounded the pedals of their indoor bikes in aid of a good cause.

The Rave & Ride event saw hundreds cycle on Star Trac and Schwinn bikes at Stoke Park in Buckinghamshire as part of an all-day fitness extravaganza sponsored by Core Health & Fitness.

The total raised in the eight-hour challenge was £30,856, while participants claimed two Guinness World Records: Most money raised in eight hours by static cycling; and most mechanical energy produced by pedalling on static bicycles in one hour. The power hour was tracked using MyZone software to monitor every kilojoule generated and was verified by Pravin Patel from the Guinness World Records.

Organised by entrepreneur Steven Smith, who lost his mum Genifer to MND, the money raised from the event will help fund a fellowship based at the MND Care and Research Centre at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital. Smith had already raised £115,000 for the MND Association from previous Rave & Ride events, as well as countless other fundraising adventures.

Smith said of the challenge: “I’m broken, destroyed, emotional and elated. I am overwhelmed with the support and the people who took part or donated are heroes. I will not stop until I find a cure and this is the first of many events that we will put on for such an important cause.”

To donate to the cause, click here.