AMATEUR cyclist Jason McDonald will be dusting off his cycling shorts tonight as he prepares to undertake the challenge of a lifetime setting off on an 1,000-mile journey across the country tomorrow.

Jason, of Henwick Hall Avenue, Ramsbottom, is completing the famous Lands Ends to John O'Groats route on his mountain bike to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The furthest the 35-year-old father-of-two had cycled is 20 miles so, to keep him motivated, he will be completing a daily blog on his website detailing a day-by-day account of his journey.

He said: "I was just planning on sneaking off without telling many people and then, if things went sour and I'd had enough, I could just find the nearest train station and scurry off home! After a lot of deliberation and soul searching, I decided it was far too much of a opportunity not to raise a few quid so I decided that I would raise money for Cancer Research.

"Unfortunately, by the time I was 20, I had lost a friend and cousin to the disease and this reminded me how lucky I was even getting to try such an adventure."

Jason, who has been training for the journey by cycling two to three times a week across the hills, is aiming to complete the challenge in two weeks at an average of 70 miles per day and raise £500 for Cancer Research.

He added: "I think aiming for a 100 plus miles per day might be possible but not much fun. I don't want to wake every morning knowing it could be dark before I stop cycling again.

"I'm hoping on most days I'll arrive at my destination around 5 or 6pm so there is time to look around and take in the scenery."

To sponsor Jason and to read his daily cycling diary, visit www.justgiving.com/solo.