Staff from the Manchester Evening News are part of a team of cyclists preparing for a 950-mile charity ride from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

The team of six has been in training since January and last weekend four put themselves to the test with a 60-mile ride from Manchester to Blackpool.

It was the latest warm-up ride for the 10-day journey at the end of August, which will see the team covering up to 117 miles a day in a bid to complete the challenge in time.

The team is raising money for the paper’s Kirsty’s Appeal which aims to raise £5m to safeguard the Francis House children’s hospice charity.

MEN deputy managing director Mark Rix, general advertisement manager Paul O’Halloran and deputy postal manager David Healey are all taking part in the ride, and accounts administrator Ron Bent will be driving the team’s van.

Mark said: “Training started in January because it’s going to be a tough challenge and it has involved a change in diet and drinking habits for some of the team!

“But it is for a great cause and we hope our efforts will raise a lot money for the Francis House and raise awareness about the wonderful work it does.

“We have visited Francis House and we were able to see at first hand just how dedicated the staff and just how important their efforts are in helping children and their families.”

The team will begin its trek in Land’s End on August 26 and aims to finish in John O’Groats on September 4.

Daily progress reports will be printed in the Manchester Evening News and on the paper’s website to keep readers in touch with the journey.

The paper is also asking readers to show their support for the appeal by donating online or texting the word ‘charity’ to 83105.

• Kirsty’s Appeal has been running since 1999 and has so far raised £2,667,999. It is named after Kirsty Howard who was born with a back to front heart – a condition so rare that it does not have a name.

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