FOUR members of a local cricket club are in training for the charity bike ride of a life-time - from Ledbury to Monte Carlo.

James Fortnam, Andrew Lloyd, Nicko Evans and Neil Stokes, all members of Canon Frome Cricket Club, will tackle the 1650km challenge in April 2015, in a bid to raise £6000 for the club and a further £6000 for a medical charity, the SMA Trust.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a genetic neuromuscular disease, which means it is inherited and affects nerves responsible for muscle function.

The team chose this charity as a worthy cause because the condition afflicts the grandmother of a fellow player.

Team member, former John Masefield High School student, James Fortnam, aged 24, said: "We are also fund-raising to supply electricity to our cricket ground. This will help the development of junior cricket in the community."

The club already has a very successful youth section, with over fifty juniors signed up, and it hopes that improved facilities will help it to build on this success.

The team members are regularly cycling 50 miles each Sunday, in the challenging terrain of the Brecon Beacons, and they are also making use of fixed "turbo trainers" to clock up the miles.

Mr Fortnam added: "Why Monte Carlo? I think it's the glamour, the appeal, and the "Monte Carlo Or Bust" theme, which was the title of a film; - also, we were watching the Monte Carlo Formula One race last year, when we said, that's a nice place to go, and decided to do it then."

The squad hope they won't go bust, by way of any punctures, during the 13 days they have set themselves to complete the gruelling challenge, all the way from Ledbury to the South of France.

They are keen to get sponsorship to make their efforts all the more worthwhile.

Mr Fortnam said: "On our journey, we are planning to take a support vehicle which will carry the sponsors' names, and we will be wearing jerseys during the ride, with the sponsors names."

Further information from - CanonFromeCycle@outlook.com and on 07766226174.