Charity fund-raiser Stuart Bayne has handed over cheques for more than £30,000 to the Down’s Syndrome Association (DSA) after completing a marathon cycle ride through New Zealand.

Stuart, who a Sales Manager for NGK Spark Plugs, cycled 2108km (1309 miles), climbing more than 14,000 metres, during his epic journey from Bluff at the southern tip of New Zealand’s South Island to Cape Reinga, the northern-most part of the country, to raise funds for the DSA.

His fund-raising efforts resulted in £23,661.74 being presented to former professional footballer and DSA patron Kevin Kilbane for the charity in the UK and a further $11,627.42 NZ (£6689.70) for the DSA in New Zealand. Kevin is the Republic of Ireland’s third highest capped international and has been a supporter of the DSA since the birth of his eldest daughter Elsie. He has raised thousands of pounds for the charity, raising money by running both the London and New York Marathons.

Stuart, a 53-year-old father-of-three said, "Kevin, like myself, became involved with the DSA on the birth of his daughter and, as I do, shares a positivity towards the condition to living life to the fullest through education and understanding on the part of society rather than the person with Down’s. I would like to thank Kevin for taking the time to meet up with me and accept our donation and I would also like to thank everyone else who contributed, including the major sponsors NGK UK and NGK Europe and Australia and many of the company’s customers in all industry sectors.