THIS past summer Will Chadwick, a friend from University, and I set off on what may be one of the toughest challenges of our lives.

For six months we trained five or six times a week in preparation for the 2,000-mile cycle from Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada), to Tijuana at the Mexican border along the West coast of the USA.

For the challenge I set up a ‘just giving’ page in aid of the British Heart Foundation and the support from people far and wide has been really overwhelming; so far I have raised just short of £2,000.

For weeks and months before the expedition we formed our plans to cover 100 miles each day, carrying around 20kgs of gear on the bikes and camping each night, hopefully riding for six days of the week and having one day off.

In all honesty we did not really know how achievable this would be!

Training really was tough. We are both now third year Vet students at Nottingham Vet School and alongside 9am to 5pm lectures each day and the hardest exams of the course yet, it was a huge commitment to find the time to train and study.

On top of this we had the added stress of knowing we would get our exam results whilst cycling in America and if we had any re-sits we would have to change our flights and fly home early!

During the middle of the exams we had to cycle into Nottingham to get a few last minute essentials, as we were departing from Heathrow to Vancouver in 10 days. Unfortunately I was hit side on by a car travelling at 30mph.

The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco – Chris urges readers to check out the tan lines on his head!

An ambulance was called, the police arrived and I was terrified at the thought of not being able to cycle America after all the hard work we had put in.

Luckily I was battered and bruised, very shaken up, but after a visit from my grandparents and some Ibuprofen for the following week I was on the mend.

On 3 July we departed from North Vancouver, aiming to reach the Mexican border, 2,000 miles south, in three and a half weeks. It was the most surreal feeling.

After successfully travelling through Vancouver Island and navigating Washington we arrived in Oregon 600 miles later for our first rest day.

The first week was very daunting, being so far from the finish and also unsure about our exam results, but we achieved the miles we had hoped and received news we had both passed all our exams.

With that huge weight off our shoulders we could really get stuck into the cycle. We shared our second week with fellow cyclist Rob, a 48-year-old welder from Vancouver, who rode with us until his journey ended in San Francisco.

After our second week on the road we were really in the swing of things and only took half a day off in San Francisco before cracking on with the push to the border.

For me this was the most amazing part of the trip and cycling through the Big Sur (between San Francisco and LA) really was a life-changing day.

Over the final stretch we hit some huge distances each day, including a 138-mile penultimate day before a 50-mile push to the Mexican border the next day; it was a slow 50 miles as we were both so exhausted.

Will Chadwick and Chris Akkari at the Mexican border.

On 24 July, after 1,983 miles and one rest day, we arrived at the Mexican border three days ahead of schedule.

Reaching the border was very emotional; it was just unbelievable to be there. We had travelled through the most demanding and without a doubt the most beautiful scenery either of us had ever seen before.

The noise of the turnstiles turning as people crossed into Mexico was hypnotic. I called Mum to tell the family we’d made it and just burst out crying.

I said to her “Look what you’ve done” as I cried my eyes out; she pointed out to me she hadn’t even opened her mouth to talk before I started crying!

Soon after I got a great text from Grandma saying they were all crying with me! It really was a life-changing experience and we enjoyed a great three-week holiday travelling back up the coast allowing for serious relaxing and time for the unbelievable saddle sores to recover.

I would like to say a massive thank you to all those who helped me achieve such a challenge, the generosity of those whose sponsored the British Heart Foundation for the adventure, and especially my parents for all their support.

The money raised helps in playing a role in the fight against disease of the heart and circulation, so that it is no longer a major cause of disability and premature death.

My JustGiving page is still up and running and I would love to continue to raise more money for a fantastic charity: http://www.justgiving.com/ ChrisAkkari.