IT had only been completed by 20 other cyclists... but David Shields was motivated by love of his daughter.

Dad David's baby girl Freya died 83 minutes after birth but her parents are determined to honour her memory and raise funds for the charities that helped them.

David and a group of friends have completed the Lang Way Doon challenge for Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (better known as CHAS), and Simpsons Memory Box Appeal (SiMBA).

From Hamilton, the group of seven began their 310 mile journey in Tongue, Lairg, going over the Cairngorm mountain range and finished at the Scottish border town of Coldstream in 22 hours 27 minutes, after climbing an amazing 16,500 feet.

The team broke two Lang Way Doon records, including first female, Nathalie Brohan, and oldest participant, Russell Easton, 57, to cross the finish line.

The team made a pit stop at Rachel House children’s hospice in Kinross, part of the CHAS family, and were met by families being cared for by the service, along with volunteers and staff.

READ MORE: Dad tackles Lang Way Doon for CHAS and SiMBA

David said: "I’m so proud of our team and our amazing achievement of raising £6,566, and rising, for both CHAS and SiMBA, who cared for my family at the worst time imaginable."

When David and his wife Kathleen attended a routine scan during their first trimester, the midwife found a high level of fluid on baby Freya’s neck.

One week later, following non-invasive genetic testing, the family were faced with a Trisomy 13 diagnosis - a fatal chromosome condition also known as Patau Syndrome.

Following the diagnosis, David and Kathleen were introduced to CHAS, which offers respite, end of life care and bereavement support to families with children with life-shortening conditions.

The family were referred to Robin House in Balloch, and following Freya’s birth and short life of 83 minutes, the family chose to go to the hospice for bereavement support.

READ MORE: Glasgow hospital and CHAS unite to help families

Samantha Reilly, Senior Community Fundraiser, said: “We want to thank David and his amazing team of friends for their incredible support and dedication.

“Three children, like Freya, die every week in Scotland of a life-shortening condition in Scotland.

"At CHAS we’re determined to be there for every one of them and offer our support.

"Amazing supporters like David and his team help us on this mission by raising much needed funds and awareness."

CHAS is the only charity in Scotland that provides hospice services for babies, children and young people with life-shortening conditions.

The national charity offers palliative care and respite for the whole family via its two hospices, Rachel House in Kinross and Robin House in Balloch, and via its CHAS at Home service and Diana Children’s Nurse, which supports families in their own homes and in clinical settings across the whole of Scotland.

To donate to David’s Lang Way Doon challenge, see uk.virginmoneygiving.com/thelangwaydoon2019