Some of Britain's top cricket writers rode into town last week – absolutely shattered.

They were stopping in Monmouth in the midst of a 16-day cycle ride, covering more than 1,000 miles, travelling to the headquarters of all the 18 first-class county cricket clubs from Somerset in the south-west to Durham in the north-east.

The aim was to raise money for two cricket-related cancer charities. One is the Teenage Cancer Trust's Laurie Engel Fund, founded by the former editor of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, Matthew Engel, in memory of his son.

Laurie died of cancer three years ago, aged 13. The Engels live just across the Herefordshire border in the Golden Valley.

The other charity is Heads Up, for head and neck cancers, backed by former Glamorgan and England batsman Hugh Morris, a former sufferer.

Another former Glamorgan and England star, Steve James , was among those who rode the 83-mile leg from Bristol to Monmouth via Cardiff.

He joined the six doing the full thousand miles: Colin Bateman of the Daily Express, Colin's sons Tom and Jack, his nephew Alan Dracey, David Lloyd of the Evening Standard and Ian Todd, formerly of The Sun.

 "It's enormous fun for two very good causes," said a weary Todd, when he arrived for the overnight stop in Monmouth. "But there are an awful lot of hills in Wales."

Ian Todd with Matthew Engel and his wife Hilary, of the Laurie Engel Fund, and their daughter Vika.