THE leader of a charity that tackles deprivation and social exclusion has completed a gruelling bike ride to celebrate a major milestone.

Mark Weeding, chief executive of Developing Initiatives Supporting Communities (Disc) in Newton Aycliffe, covered around 340 miles in three days across to raise funds and awareness for the charity.

The bike ride was part of the organisation’s 30th anniversary celebrations and saw Mr Weeding cycle from Newton Aycliffe to Hull in East Yorkshire, before heading to Manchester and then back to Newton Aycliffe.

Mr Weeding said: ‘’Our organisation delivers quality services across the north of England, and by cycling for three days across the areas where we work, I really got an appreciation of just how far we have travelled as an organisation.

“From our roots in County Durham we’ve spread right across the north.’’

Disc helps people make positive changes to their lives by tackling issues such as addiction, homelessness, unemployment, crime, poverty and family breakdown.

Mr Weeding’s bike ride is one of many ways the charity is marking its anniversary this year, with staff also enjoying picnics in the park and taking on a three peaks walking challenge.

For more information about Disc or to help Mr Weeding reach his £500 fundraising target visit disc-vol.org.uk/ and click on ‘donate.’