AN AMBITIOUS cyclist from Whitby is aiming to travel the length of the country in just eight days.

Alan Critchley will power peddle the 874 miles from Land’s End to John o’ Groats next month to raise money for The Lymphoma Association and Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

The 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, while staying off major roads in order to make it a truly testing mental and physical challenge.

Alan is no stranger to fundraising, having already run the London Marathon in aid of the Hospice of the Good Shepherd in 2007.

And Alan has very personal reasons for choosing the two charities this time round.

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

Alan said: “We’re aiming to spend eight to 10 hours a day in the saddle, covering about 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.

“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.”

The team has been putting itself through a punishing training regime in preparation for the challenge, which for Alan has included 60km hill training sessions up Kelsall Hill and through Delamere Forest.

Alan and his friends have covered the costs of the trip themselves to ensure every penny of the £15,000 target goes directly to their chosen causes – and they have already raised £6,995.

The team will set off on their ambitious challenge on Friday, September 21.

You can donate at www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/MarkAlanChris.