Chartered engineer John Shephard is embarking on the adventure of a lifetime later this year - riding a Honda C90 scooter to Gambia.

The 45-year-old, of Minety, is part of a group of about 20 volunteers who are taking a van full of medical supplies to Bansang Hospital, along with a convoy of the bikes.

The scooters, van, aid and equipment will all be donated to the hospital.

Mr Shephard will be riding one of the bikes 3,000 miles down the west coast of Africa over four weeks.

"It may be a very small difference I am making, as I am not going out to build a hospital or anything like that, but it will hopefully mean something," said Mr Shephard.

Engineer Neil Crocker, 50, of Minety, is helping organise the trip, which is due to begin at the end of December.

Mr Crocker said: "What we consider to be barely acceptable standards of healthcare here don't even exist in west Africa.

"Even something as small as five pounds - about two pints of beer at the pub - can mean the difference between life and death.

"And it is not just the life you save, but the knock-on effect that has on, say, the person's children."

The scooters will be transported to the south of Spain, before being ridden the rest of the way.

A number of fundraising events are being organised in the run-up to the trip.

Anyone who wishes to donate a Honda C90, whether in working order or not, can email Mr Crocker at neil.crocker@btconnect.com.

Donations can also be made by visiting www.giftshare.com/scooters4africa.

The scooters allow doctors and nurses to visit patients and also to collect vital supplies, including blood.