A TEAM leader from the University of Chester is saddling up for a challenge.

Alan Critchley will cycle the length of the British Isles to raise funds for a charity close to his heart in just eight days.

Alan, of Whitby, will set off tomorrow to peddle the 874 miles from Land’s End to John o’ Groats to raise money for The Lymphoma Association and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

The famous trip usually takes 12-14 days to complete but Alan, and his friends Chris Midgley, Mark Wharton and Mark Harrison, have decided to compress it into eight days.

No stranger to endurance-related fundraising – Alan ran the London Marathon in aid of Chester’s Hospice of the Good Shepherd in 2007 – he has very personal reasons for choosing the two charities.

His mother-in-law, Adele, has recently been diagnosed with leukaemia, while the father of his fellow rider, Mark Harrison, has chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) – a type of non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

Alan who is also studying for a degree in management and leadership at the university, said: “We’re aiming to spend eight to 10 hours a day in the saddle, covering around 200km and 2,000m ascents. That’s the equivalent of cycling from London to Birmingham, then twice up England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, each and every day.”

He added: “Each of us has immediate family or friends that are affected by blood cancers and these charities provide excellent and much needed support to patients, carers and families.

“It will be tough going, but the thought of how much good that money will do will keep us on track, plus Mark’s dad Richard is going to be our support driver which will remind us just how important and personal this challenge is.”

Every penny of the £15,000 target will go directly to their chosen causes – and they’re almost halfway there, having raised £6,995.06 to date.

To make a donation online visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/MarkAlanChris.