A Carlisle cyclist passionate about mental health has completed his incredible journey to Istanbul. 

Back in April, Joshua Morrison bought a trusty Carrera push iron bike for just £80, with the simple idea of riding it to the end of Europe. 

Amid struggles with PTSD and anxiety, the fitness enthusiast chose to raise money for MIND, a charity which supports those with mental health problems, and he has already raised over £1600.

Seeing the sunsetSeeing the sunset (Image: Supplied)

Joshua set off on his journey on May 3 and 2300 miles and 12 countries later, he arrived in his final destination of Turkey on Sunday June 23. 

He said: "Before I set off I knew what I was trying to accomplish was not impossible by any means. It has been done many times before. I knew I could do it. But I had absolutely no clue about how hard it would be. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.

"The thing you don’t consider with these journeys is that you’re taking you with you. I carried my PTSD and anxieties along with me. And when you’re rolling into a town late at night in France or somewhere like Montenegro, looking for a place to set up camp or even a bench to sleep on, in a town where you don’t know what people are like or whether it’s safe, it really pushes you out to your limits of discomfort.

"I’ve slept on beaches, benches, in fields, on hard solid pavement of an Aldi in Greece, abandoned buildings, pretty much anywhere that offered me a chance to get some sleep before I set off again."

Josh shared a powerful message for anyone going through struggles:

"I did this for everyone out there who has struggled with their mental health, or is currently still enduring that dark struggle. I have PTSD, anxiety. I have Clubfoot. 60 per cent of the muscle missing from my right calf.

"I want people to know that no matter how dark their life may seem right now, it is only temporary. You’re in a tunnel, and it has another side. There is a light. Just keep going.