Lancashire cyclists to cover 1,700 miles

A group of six cyclists are set to cover 1,700 miles in less than five days in a bid to raise money for Help for Heroes.

Former marine Matt Lavery has joined forces with five of his friends to complete the arduous route, which will take the team from Manchester to Gibraltar, reports the Lancashire Evening Post.

Pedals for Medals is the name of the scheme and it will see the six men ride in two groups of three, rotating every four hours so that they never stop until they reach southern Spain.

The idea is Mr Lavery's and he said the trek begins on May 1st outside Manchester's Imperial War Museum, with the aim to arrive in Gibraltar on May 5th.

"We were sitting in the pub having a beer and someone said why don't we do Land's End to John O'Groats but a bit different, and we thought we would go to Gibraltar. That was about 18 months ago and here we are," explained the fundraiser.

All of the riding will be completed on a push bike, so it is clear it will be an immensely difficult physical challenge that will require plenty of training if it is to be pulled off.

Mr Lavery decided that all of the money they raise should be donated to Help for Heroes, which works to support injured and wounded ex-servicemen and women once they return to the UK.

He spent ten years in the armed forces and explained he knows a number of people who have been injured or killed in combat.

"I feel obliged to do a little bit. I was lucky enough to come away with all my limbs and most of my sanity, so I'm giving a little bit back," he stated.

The route of the Pedals for Medals challenge takes the team from Manchester to Dover, through France, over the Pyrenees, towards Madrid and then on to Gibraltar.