by Katie Alston

A father and son have just completed the trip of a lifetime.

Cycling up Temple Road, Canterbury where their family home sits,
Mark and Sam Swain were greeted with cheers and smiles from 100
family and friends who gathered to welcome the duo home.

Putting their relationship through the ultimate test they cycled
around the globe to Tokyo in just 10 months, biking 10,000 miles
through 22 countries.

The self funded expedition cost £12,000 and was in aide of
Canterbury-based charity the Rising Sun Domestic Violence
Project.

Mark said: "It is a charity very close to our hearts and my wife
Lorna, who works as a child psychologist sees first hand how
damaging it can be when a father-and-son relationship breaks
down.

"The trip has been life changing and has given me a completely
different outlook."

Sam added: "I have seen so many brilliant places and it is such
an achievement. I want to see more of the world and I’m now looking
at studying in Japan.

"It has made me see that if you set your mind to it you can do
anything. There were times when it seemed relentless but it has all
been so worth it."