Three Uplyme-based fund raisers - with a combined weight of 50 stones - plan to cycle 1,000 miles in 12 days

An Uplyme man and two pals, who between them weight at just short of a third of a ton, are gearing up to cycle the length of Britain - to raise cash for Help for Heroes.

Andrew Dare and friends Tom Glavin and Colwin Way, are aiming to ride 1,000 miles from John O’ Groats to Land’s End in just 12 days – and completely unaided.

They are calling it the “50 stone challenge” because of their combined weight.

Andrew says he wants to push his body to the limits of physical endurance in honour of injured service men and women who endure far worse pain.

The 33-year-old works at Ottery St Mary Leisure Centre as a fitness team leader, while Tom, 32, and Colwin, 39, are employed at Axminster Power Tools, living in Lyme Regis and Uplyme respectively.

By taking on the challenge unsupported, the three will have to carry all their equipment - including a tent, sleeping bags, clothes, cooking stoves and first aid gear.

Andrew told The Herald: “Being hugely patriotic, and a massive supporter of our brave service men and women, I wanted to ride end to end, and I wanted to do it for Help for Heroes.

“Everyone knows someone either serving, or who has served, in the forces and to put our bodies through the pain of an endurance ride such as this was insignificant to the pain our injured service men and women go through on a daily basis.”

The ride is taking place towards the end of May, but the cyclists have organised a charity auction at the Talbot Arms, in Uplyme, on April 28.

Prizes include a week’s holiday in St Ives, a signed Barbarians rugby shirt, six months Leisure East Devon membership and Jools Holland tickets.

On April, 15 the men will cycle for eight hours non-stop on spinning bikes on the Marine Parade, in Lyme Regis, to advertise their challenge and hopefully gain sponsors.

The trio, who hope to raise more than �5,000 for the charity, started their preparations in January with cold training rides on weekends.

They all now ride to and from work and are looking to clock up 100 to 150 miles a week. This will increase considerably in the coming weeks.

To support the cyclists visit their sponsorship web page at www.bmycharity.com/colwinway