Staff from a Financial Planning firm have completed a 850 mile cycling challenge, in a bid to raise £100,000 for CASCAID and cancer research.

Team members from Sanlam UK were joined on route by former England cricket star Matt Prior, alongside his professional cycling team ONE Pro Cycling.

Read our interview with Matt Prior HERE 

Company chief executive Jonathan Polin was among those taking part in the ‘Great Sanlam Cycling Challenge’, which lasted for nine days and started and finished in London.

The riders visited each of Sanlam UK’s 12 regional offices along the way.

Another great day on the bike supporting #challengeJP & @SanlamUK raising money for @CR_UK @CascaidCharity pic.twitter.com/EsV9fMRp7a

— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) July 12, 2017

Congratulations to the @SanlamUK team for completing Day 3 of the Great Sanlam Cycling Challenge for @CascaidCharity in aid of @CR_UK today! pic.twitter.com/1LM4cbFRRF

— ONE Pro Cycling (@ONEProCycling) July 12, 2017

Speaking to Financial Planning Today about the challenge last week, Mr Prior said: “It’s been fantastic. On day one we had someone riding a Boris bike for 80 miles and we were there with all of the professional equipment. On the second day we were there and there was a lady on a one speed bike and another on a mountain bike and I thought it was a case of seeing how far they got, but they completed the full 100km which was fantastic.

“Watching these individuals with so much motivation and desire get things done has been brilliant. Even though they’re not professionals, their attitude towards the event has been fantastic and seeing people commit to that and achieving that success and target has been great.”

Mr Polin said: “I’m incredibly proud of everyone involved in this challenge. And it has been a whole-group effort – we have had people joining us on Boris bikes, regional teams doing the equivalent distance on static bikes, and various people joining on to support different legs of the journey. We have raised a hefty amount towards our target for this incredible charity and look forward to continuing to build on this progress.”

JP at the start of his @SanlamUK cycle challenge as part of @CascaidCharity awesome to have the support of @ONEProCycling #allez #cycling pic.twitter.com/hB7G5um23B

— Ben Burns (@benburns01) July 10, 2017

It's Day 2 of the Great @SanlamUK Cycling Challenge! Good luck to the team on their journey from Marlow - Fareham! https://t.co/RS4JrhnOHq pic.twitter.com/MaYgXPTPqZ

— ONE Pro Cycling (@ONEProCycling) July 11, 2017

Sanlam UK has raised £25,000 for CASCAID so far and the firm will be holding a number of other events across the year to reach its £100,000 target, including a three peaks challenge, cake sales, a charity quiz, raffles and a static bike ride challenge.

The CASCAID charity aims to bring the asset management community together to raise £2m for Cancer Research UK in 2017.