A HOSPITAL worker is saddling up for the ride of her life on a tower-to-tower cycling challenge.

Karen Riley is pedalling her way between two of Europe's most famous towers - Blackpool and Eiffel - to raise money for charity.

Miss Riley, who works with kidney patients at Dorset County Hospital, is excited about visiting Paris for the first time when she rolls in at the end of the 500 mile ride.

She said: "I'm looking forward to seeing Paris, but I don't know if we'll have the chance to go up the Eiffel Tower.

"When we arrive we will have a celebration meal and then we've got the next morning to enjoy the Parisian life, before flying back to England."

The 31-year-old renal social worker is one of 25 intrepid cyclists who are undertaking the challenge to raise money for the National Kidney Research Fund.

Each volunteer has to raise a minimum of £1,500 to cover the cost of the ride and help the charity.

The riders start in Blackpool on a Sunday morning and pass through Shropshire, Oxford and Brighton before getting the ferry to Dieppe and hitting the roads for the French capital. With only seven days to complete the distance, riders will have to cover about 70 miles a day, so some serious training has been required.

"I think I can do it," said Miss Riley. "It's not going to be easy in some parts, but with the support of the other riders you can get through it. I have been training on my own and I can quite easily do 40 miles a day, and when you're with others you jolly one another on."

Miss Riley says as well as being her first trip to Paris it will be her first time in Blackpool, although she is not looking forward to seeing the Lancashire resort quite as much.

She said: "Blackpool and Paris is a bit like chalk and cheese, I suppose. Lots of people have told me that it's not so nice, but we've got to start somewhere. By the time we get to Paris, Blackpool is going to seem like a million miles away," she said.

* Anyone who would like to sponsor Karen Riley should call her on 01305 255217, or visit www.justgiving.com/ rilestower2tower