A LOCAL man is getting on his bike in order to raise money for a charity close to his heart.

52-year-old Gary Payton set off for Rossendale in Lancashire from Stevenston on Monday along with his friend Anthony Chadwick.

The pair are tackling a gruelling 273-mile trek for the Robin House Hospice in Balloch and the Hospice in Rossendale, where they will enjoy a celebration on Saturday night.

Gary explained the thinking behind the event and told the Herald: “It all started as a joke. I said to Anthony I would travel down to see him on my bike and he said he would come up and do it with me. He said he always wanted to do something like that.

“Neither of us have really done the proper training for it but we have set a target of £500 each and have had help from local shops.”

Bargain B’s in Stevenston have held a collection for the pair with Iceland in Saltcoats also planning a similar collection.

Sports Direct in Irvine provided Gary with shoes and other items to help them on their way.

At time of going to press, the pair will be approaching the border with England with roughly 120 miles to go until the complete the epic journey.

On Saturday, there will be a evening of fun and entertainment in the Commercial Pub in Rossendale.

Gary would like to thank everyone who helped including Ayrshire Cycles for making sure his bike is ready and roadworthy for the cycle.

If you would like to donate, you can visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/gary-payton290