A sports reporter on a daily newspaper in the midlands will face a tough challenge yet when he takes part in a cycle relay from John O’ Groats to Lands End.

Martin Spinks, Stoke City Reporter for The Sentinel in Stoke-on-Trent will take part in the On Yer Bike Celebrity Bike Challenge to raise cash for The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice.

He will be joining TV celebrity Nick Hancock, Stoke City Manager Tony Pulis, and Midlands TV presenter Dan Pallett in a bid to raise £100,000.

During the week Martin will meet with Tony to cover the success of Stoke City Football Club.

Said Martin: “At least I’ll get an exclusive interview with Tony out on the road, but I think he’ll be too out of breath trying to race me. For once, I might just see Tony lost for words as I’ve been warned there a few hills to climb along the way.”

Martin, who has been training around his home town of Stafford, has already tackled Mount Kilimanjaro when he joined Tony on the Kili 4 Kids Challenge to raise money for the hospice two years ago.

He added: “I’ve already done the Coast-to-Coast bike ride, but this is going to be the biggest cycling challenge I’ve faced.

“It’s going to be really tough and I know it is going to hurt, but it is nothing compared to what the children and their families at the hospice have to deal with every day.”

The Donna Louise Children’s Hospice cares for more than 180 children and their families. It provides free care and support and relies on donations to help pay its running costs of £2.4 million a year.

The riders set off on Monday 28 May to travel up to Scotland, ready to start cycling on Tuesday 29 May. They are due to finish on Friday 1 June.

To support the riders and make a donation go to www.onyerbike2012.org or Text PUSH96 £(Amount) to 70070.