A GROUP of friends is cycling the length of Britain to raise funds for charity.

The seven, who all grew-up in Keighley and attended the town's Oakbank School, are tackling a non-stop relay from John O'Groats to Land's End.

They begin their gruelling challenge on Saturday (May 27) and aim to complete the route, of almost 1,000 miles, in three days.

An online fundraising page has been set-up, at mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/kcsaddlesore, with proceeds being split between the Alzheimer's Society and Dementia Friendly Keighley.

The septet – Stu Burns, Rob Ellis, Craig Lawson, Tom Schofield, Tom Smith, Rowan Thewlis and Simon Wright – will be joined for the Scotland leg by an eighth ex-Keighley man, Ian McNally.

They began training at the start of the year, following a regime set by Mr Wright, an army officer.

"There is a real mixture of cycling abilities amongst us – there are a couple of keen cyclists while some of us are getting back into the saddle for the first time in about ten years!" said Mr Ellis, a structural engineer who now lives in Cambridge.

"A family member of a close friend was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's and we wanted to show our support.

"I'm sure the majority of people will know about the effects of dementia and in particular Alzheimer's disease.

"Currently there are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to rise to over one million by 2025. This will soar to two million by 2051."

The group's target was to raise £1,500 and donations have already taken it close to that.

"We've had a lot of support from friends, family and work colleagues and we're extremely grateful for that," said Mr Ellis.

"If I've ever needed a push to get me on to the turbo trainer after a long day at work, the pledge of a further donation has provided that motivation."

He added: "It will be a tough challenge but we're excited about it and are ready to get going."