TWENTY three intrepid cyclists are cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats for charity.

The team from Budmouth College will set off on their charity challenge today heading from the college to the start point at Land’s End.

Sponsored by Westham Cycles, Westfield Arts College and Mud, Sweat and Gears, the riders are raising money for Help for Heroes and for the college’s linked school in Kenya.

The charity challenge is called End to End and the cyclists have been in training for months to get ready for the 900 mile trek.

The riders are split into teams and will cycle the course in relay.

They have two support vehicles with trailers for the ride and the teams will be staying over at various village halls along the route.

Budmouth College headteacher , David Akers, said: “I’m really looking forward to it. It’s an exciting challenge for all of us. I’m nervous about the number of miles we have to do on a daily basis.

“Each person has to ride 90 miles a day. It will be a real adventure for us.”

Budmouth College has been working with the Kiriani School in Chogoria, Kenya for 15 years and has helped to set up a special needs facility there, as well as a medical centre with added dental and maternity facilities.

Each year the college raises money for the African school through non-uniform days and sends out two containers a year full of old text books, computers and learning materials. They recently sent out a container filled with items from the old school building that would not be needed in the new facility.

Teacher Sophie Ives said that alongside the Kenyan school, Help for Heroes was a charity that was very close to people’s hearts.

She said: “I think it’s just many of us appreciate the scarifies that the armed forces make for us.

“Many people have friends and family out there.”

Joining the staff on the ride is Warrant Officer David Belcher, who has recently returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan. He is married to geography teacher Samantha Temple and trained for the event while in Camp Bastion.

He said: “Training out there was tough going, partly through having to find the time to squeeze it in.

“Although it’s a huge base there was nowhere to ride a road bike, as almost all the roads in Camp Bastion are gravel.”

He added: “I think the greatest challenge will be that after all the training, I’ve not ridden a real bike in quite some time so I may be in for a shock.”

To raise extra money for the charities teacher and support van driver Andy Dukes had his hair and beard shaved off and lots of teachers had their legs waxed.

To sponsor the challenge visit www.mycharitypage.com/BudmouthEndtoEnd