THE prospect of cycling 1,000 miles on a tandem would be scary enough for most people but not for Dan Rowbotham.

Because when he chose to help the Meningitis Research Foundation, the Hereford businessman decided to throw in a couple of skydives along the way.

Now he and partner Jen Currie are cycling to Hereford’s twin town of Vierzon in central France and want 50 supporters to complete one of the parachute jumps along the way.

“I was coming back from the jump site one day,” the keen skydiver explained, “and saw a tandem, and Jen said ‘oh that would be nice’. I think she had visions of going off in the spring sunshine with a picnic though.”

Instead she agreed on a challenge which, for Dan in particular, will bring some much-needed awareness but also poignant memories of his daughter Beren, who died from meningococcal septicaemia in 2008 aged 10.

One of their last holidays together was in the Mont St Michel area of Normandy, a place Dan and Jen plan to revisit along the way.

“It’s going to be quite a big adventure,” he admitted, “and quite an emotional one too.”

Those interested in jumping are asked to raise £375, but aim for £500, while businesses are also wanted to sponsor anything from tyres to water bottles.

City mayor Councillor Anna Toon will ask fellow mayors for support en route, while fitness firm Altered Image and Climb On Bikes have also helped out.

Dan says it will be important to promote a county that has shown him such support, but also to raise awareness of a disease which changed his life in the blink of an eye.

“There is a lack of awareness with some hospitals, and some people. I want to say to everybody, just think before you say no,”

he said. “And I want people to be inspired. You can do this two ways, you can say ‘my life is over now she’s gone’, or you can say ‘I have a life and I want her to be proud of me’.”

For more information on the trip and various fundraisers – the first of which will be a ceilidh at Ewyas Harold on March 12 – visit 1000milesforberen.com.