A PEWSEY violin teacher is getting ready to cycle 4,000 miles across Africa to raise money for charity.

Violin teacher and novice cyclist, Iona Hassan, is preparing for the second leg of her World Cycle Challenge – an epic journey from Nairobi, Kenya, to Cape Town, South Africa.

Ms Hassan, 38, will begin her challenge on February 20, and alongside her new cycling buddy Anna Kitlar, from Germany, will cycle through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana and South Africa. The pair are expecting to arrive into Cape Town around April 20.

Averaging around 100km per day, Ms Hassan and Ms Kitlar will be camping on route and plan to pop into villages to meet local people and experience different cultures.

Last year the musician and violin teacher completed the first leg of her journey, a gruelling 1600 mile ride across Europe. In just 25 days she peddled from Roscoff, France to Venice, Italy.

Ms Hassan, of Cossor Road, Pewsey, is raising money for Inspire Malawi a charity which helped to build a classroom for the children in rural Malawi in an area she visited last year. She is also raising money for Networks of Wellbeing a mental health charity based in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, the area where she grew up. The money will be used to help support work with young people there.

In preparation for the trip Ms Hassan said: “I have been pretty busy getting my new bike, an Orange P7 mountain bike, ready for the trip. Popping in to see my friends at the local bike shop, Pewsey Velo, whenever I have spare time to get the set up right and figure out the best way of getting across Africa with the minimum kit possible.

“We will be bike-packing as opposed to touring with full panniers which means space is pretty limited. Only taking what you absolutely need, no space for any luxuries at all. Even the toothbrush is being cut in half!

“I’d like to thank everyone for their support, encouragement and generous donations which really spurs me on. My most heartfelt thanks to my incredible sponsors Pewsey Velo and also my newest supporters Altura.”

To donate to the charity, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/round-the-world-2017