Ref. 30159-09CHARITY fundraiser Martin Vandervelde will be pedalling across Europe to raise money for the Prospect Hospice this year.

Mr Vandervelde, 69, from Lakeside, Swindon is hoping to beat his last year's total of just over £7,500 by taking part in four cycling events.

He has already completed the first a 300-mile cycle tour of Fuerteventura in the Canary Isles in January.

On Friday he will head for the Czech Republic for a 700-mile long tour of the country over 14 days with fellow cyclists Roger Hayes and Bob Chittenden.

In June he will take part in the

58-mile London to Brighton bike ride before concluding the year with another 300 miles riding around Normandy in July.

By the end of the year he will have cycled nearly 1,400 miles.

Since 1990, the retired tailor has collected about £40,000 in sponsorship and aims to raise more money than the previous year on each attempt.

He said: "I love helping our wonderful Prospect Hospice and I love long distance cycling, especially abroad and the adventure of not knowing what each day will bring."

In 2001, Mr Vandervelde and Mr Chittenden, along with Roger Hayes and Denis Hedges took part in their own version of the Tour de France for the Prospect Hospice in memory of their friend David Mainwaring, who died of cancer in January of that year at the age of 44.

Anyone wanting to sponsor Mr Vandervelde can contact him on 01793 521910.