Over 340 miles and 40lb of bananas later, a team of 12 surgeons who work with military patients at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB) are celebrating the end of their bike ride to Belgium.

The group cycled to the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres which is dedicated to the memory of more than 54,000 soldiers killed in the Ypres Salient in World War I and whose graves are unknown.

Taking a route via RAF Brize Norton and Headley Court, a centre for the rehabilitation of injured service personnel, the team has raised over £9,300 for the QEHB Charity.

Consultant maxillofacial surgeon Rhodri Williams led the team and said: “We found the journey challenging but enjoyable thanks to the camaraderie of the team. We were pleased to complete our ride in time for the Last Post ceremony, a solemn and poignant occasion which reminded us of the sacrifices our forces make and why we undertook our challenge in the first place.

“We’re really proud of our achievement and are delighted to have raised so much for the hospital’s official charity. We know that the money colleagues, friends and families have generously donated will go directly to helping the amazing individuals we have the honour of caring for here at the hospital.”

Martin Evans, consultant maxillofacial surgeon, added: “The ride was completed without any disasters but not without a tough few days endured by all at certain points.

“Our longest day was covering 98 miles when we rode from Leatherhead to Dover. We consumed a lot of bananas - around 40lb - because we were burning around 5,500 calories a day each. As Rhodri said, the Last Post bugle ceremony was very emotional for many of the group but a fantastic spectacle and memory. Many thanks to those who have donated so generously and for the encouragement and support over the past few months while the training rides were being undertaken.”

If you’d like to sponsor the team, please visit their Virgin Money Giving page.