A KEEN cyclist who has spent more than 20 years working to help disabled children access sport is ready to hit the heights for an epic charity ride.

Rob Belbin, from Puddletown, is riding from Lhasa in Tibet to Kathmandu in Nepal, via Everest Base Camp, to raise funds for the English Federation of Disability Sport.

The challenge will see him spend 15 days in the saddle, riding nearly 100km a day at altitudes of around 5,000m.

Rob explained that his career has seen him work for many years in promoting access to sport for disabled children and he was honoured to be appointed a trustee of the English Federation of Disabled Sport, helping to influence its work in supporting youngsters.

His other big passions are mountaineering and mountain biking and it was this that led him to take on his amazing challenge, which he will set off for on October 5.

The route will see Rob cover one of the highest and toughest rides in the world.

He said as well as fulfilling a personal ambition, he also wants to raise funds and awareness for EFDS.

Rob said: "I would love to raise the profile of EFDS and disability sport in Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole and this seems to be an ideal way to do it while maybe raising a little bit of money which will all go directly to disabled people."

The ride comes as many people are inspired to take up disability sport as a result of the Paralympics in Rio and Great Britain's success at the games and Rob says EFDS will be promoting his efforts nationally in a bid to inspired more people.

Rob is actually still recovering from major spinal surgery, having undergone an procedure to have his spine fused in January last year after reaching an point where he was told he may not walk again and should certainly discount any sport.

He has previously mountain biked across the Swiss Alps and the Pyrenees but this challenge will literally be taking things to new heights.

Rob has self financed the trip so 100 per cent of what he raises will go straight to his chosen charity.

To find out more about Rob's challenge and to sponsor him visit justgiving.com/fundraising/rob-belbin1

For more information about EFDS and its work visit efds.co.uk