“Marmite-man” David Michaels has raised more than £9,000 by cycling across the country in aid of his friend left confined in a wheelchair after suffering from a stroke and two brain tumours.

David, 53, wore a Marmite-inspired jersey as he pedalled more than 1,100 miles, starting at Land's End in Cornwall and arriving at John O'Groats in Scotland ten days later.

He said: “It was brilliant. It was a privilege to see so much beauty. It bowled me over. It was just wonderful.”

David admitted he struggled on day five when he “hit the wall” but was able to pass through it with support from his wife Lesley, sister-in-law Vicky Cullender and his three grandsons – Jake, Callum and Dylan Ralph – from their motor home.

“It was a horror day,” he said. “It was the coldest day. My Sat Nav died. A taxi was starting to look very attractive.

“But the toughest part by a mile was around the bays of Cornwall. 'Bay' must be Cornish for very steep hill. They're incredibly beautiful and incredibly tough. I found it tougher than Scotland.

What was nice was it didn't get any tougher after that.

“It was just an awesome experience.”

David was inspired to take on the challenge, which he completed in July, and raise £9,742 for his friend Mark Carey.

The pair first met when Mark was the professional at Sandy Lodge Golf Club, in Northwood, from 2003 to 2006.

However, when he started getting headaches in February 2008, doctors discovered he had a benign brain tumour.

In November the same year, doctors performed surgery to remove a second, cancerous tumour, during which Mark had a stroke on the operating table.

Mark, who lives with his partner Zoe Jefferson in Epping, Essex, is now paralysed down his left side and must use a wheelchair.

But from the money raised by David, he will be presented with a portable electric wheelchair and an electric bed for him to use.

David's cycling adventures did not end when he reached John O'Groats, however, as he took part in a London to Brighton off-road mountain biking event on September 25.

He added: “If I did it differently, I would do it over 15 days to savour the moment.”