WHEN Diana Walker first thought about taking part in a charity bike ride she had not been on a bike for 40 years.

Keen however to take part, initially had the idea of walking the mammoth distance, until she decided to make a leap of faith and get back on two wheels.

"It was more of a challenge," she said. "I hadn't ridden in 40 years, so I went out and bought a bicycle."

Now, four years later, the 59-year-old is preparing for her third cycling expedition. In November, she will be riding 350 miles from the Gulf of Thailand, across Cambodia to the Royal Temples of Angkor Wat, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Relief.

"The challenge on this trip will be the heat and the road surfaces," she Mrs Walker. "But you can't train for those things, you just have to realise you can do it."

The eight-day ride comes after similar rides across Mexico and Ecuador, when she raised about £12,000 for the charity which helped her husband when he died of cancer in 1999.

For the latest trip she needs to raise at least £2,700, which will help toward the Macmillan Worcestershire Appeal for a new urology nurse.

Mrs Walker said: "My over-riding emotion at the moment is just determination to get it done. I admit I was frightened about my first ride in Mexico because I didn't know if I could do it. But I now I know I can cycle up literally anything."

She plans to organise a barn dance and garage sales to raise funds. Anyone wanting to donate money to the trip, should ring 01684 567882.