A KEEN cyclist inspired by a book is planning his latest fundraising chapter for Bury Hospice.

Rick Gilpin, aged 35, will cycle approximately 950 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

He will set off on Saturday, June 25 and hopes to return to his home in Tottington Road, Bury, by Sunday, July 10.

To make the challenge more difficult, Rick will complete it alone, without a support vehicle.

He said: “I have wanted to do this for a few years. My wife gave me a book about a man who did the journey on his own and that inspired me. A lot of cyclists do it every year and it will be a good achievement if I manage to cycle the whole way.

“It is a big challenge and I’m feeling nervous. Because I am doing it alone, I will have to think about navigation, finding places to stay, fixing my bike if anything goes wrong.”

Rick has been busy preparing for the bike ride. He cycles to and from Heywood most days for his job as an engineer and covered up to 60 miles in long training rides at weekends.

Last year he cycled coast to coast from Whitehaven to Newcastle in three days in aid of the hospice.

To sponsor Rick: visit justgiving.com