Starting on Thursday, August 21, Ian Johnston will ride 3,558 kilometres or 2,223 miles, over 19 high mountain passes through the Pyrenees and the Alps to raise much-needed funds for Lancaster's Alex House disabled children's charity.

Riding an average of more than 100 miles a day, Ian will start from Brest in Brittany and cycle to Paris, taking 21 days.

To help him raise £10,000 for Alex House, Ian is urging
members of the public to give generously, to help pay for two special bicycles that will enable disabled children to experience the joys of cycling – speed and the feel of the wind in their faces, as they are pedalled by an able-bodied cyclist.

Ian, who has also cycled from Land's End to John O'Groats, will be joined on the cycle by his wife Jill Johnston, psychotherapist and nutritionist Stuart Reynolds and friend, Mark Gregory.

"I've been training for this for the last three months," said Ian, "I've been building up the mileage and I'm going to Switzerland for two weeks to train there."

Ian aims to raise the money to pay for two 'O Pair' bicycles, fitted with a comfortable spring-action, detachable wheelchair.

* IF you'd like to sponsor Ian, call him on 07950 699803.