THE wheels on the Kemp Hospice Appeal are still spinning thanks to a tireless orthodontist who has raised £10,000 cycling across a continent.

Christopher Gait completed the 3,000-mile sponsored marathon in 30 days from Washington State to Massachusetts in the US last summer to boost the appeal and celebrate 20 years consulting at Kidderminster Hospital.

Now all the money is in and £10,000 has been raised for the campaign for a new £2.2 million hospice to open in 2004.

The 54-year-old from Dunhampton, who also practises in Kidderminster's Church Street, is on the fund-raising committee and has been involved with Kemp for several years after his mother died in a Bristol hospice.

To fulfil his wish to "give something back" to his nearest hospice, Mr Gait endured punctures galore, 100 degree heat, roadside bears in the Rocky mountains and a hotel that reminded him of the horror film Psycho.

But the dramatic landscape and friendly locals more than made up for any hardship.

"It was fantastic - something I've always fancied doing. I did most of it on my own but my wife drove a motor home as back-up.

"The scenery was breathtaking through Montana, over the continental divide. South Dakota is the plain land full of maize and corn with dead straight roads. Then it was across Lake Michigan to avoid Chicago, into Canada, and then back into the United States at Niagara Falls."

Mr Gait finally arrived at the east coast port of Gloucester on September 4 - just a week before the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

"The whole atmosphere of the country changed - from shock to retribution to questioning. We flew into Newark which is opposite the World Trade Centre and on the way out it was a big hole with smoke coming out."

Campaign manager John Fletcher hailed the "tremendous" solo effort and Mr Gait - who raised the money from colleagues and friends - thinks the appeal will roll on.

"I'm confident the people of Kidderminster will carry on supporting the appeal, and give the centre a viable future once it's been built.

"It's desperately needed."