FOUR veteran cyclists are heading off for a continental challenge of a lifetime.
Three Dorchester friends and one from Wales will be taking on a 900-mile month-long bike ride, taking in the sights of Greece, Italy, Sardinia, Corsica and France.
The riders – with a combined age of 250 years – hope their experience counts for plenty on the trip as they seek to raise funds for two charities.
Former Dorchester GP Charles Campion-Smith, who now works part time for Macmillan Cancer Support, will be joined by Mike Howarth, an architect with John Stark and Crickmay, and former county education officer John Surowiec.
The fourth member of the group will be Charles’ brother-in-law Fred Hardwick, who lives in South Wales.
Charles said: “We are fortunate in that we now all work flexibly and believe that even though our combined age is 250 years, we are fit enough to take on this challenge. Friends have asked if we were fundraising so we decided to invite those who wish to contribute to the local Weldmar Hospicecare Trust and to Macmillan Cancer Support.”
Mike said there was plenty of spectacular scenery to keep the team peddling along the route.
He said: “We are starting on the Ionian coast of Greece then taking the ferry to Italy.
“We think there will be plenty of interest along the way. We hope to cycle over Mount Vesuvius as we approach Naples and we should be there as the Giro d’Italia cycle race is taking place.”
John has had previous experience of cycling on the continent after he rode from Dorset to Poland through the Balkans and Greece. He said: “We have planned our route for maximum interest but that does mean there will be plenty of climbs.
“The west coast of Corsica is particularly hilly – we will be following the Tour de France route there, but we hope we’ll be feeling fit by then.”
The four cyclists will be setting off at the end of April and hope to be back in this country by the end of May.
Charles said: “I expect we’ll have some tales to tell.”
Anyone wishing to sponsor the cyclists can do so online at virginmoneygiving.com/charlescs
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