A RETIRED teacher has pledged to help find the cure for cancer by cycling nearly a 1,000 miles across the country.

Chris Dring saw two close friends die from the disease and, with a life-long desire to travel, jumped in the saddle to prepare for the long ride from Land's End to John O'Groats.

The 59-year-old, from Shrawley, said she was already in training for the 920-mile journey, due to start on May Bank Holiday, aiming to raise thousands of pounds for the cause.

"I lost my dear friends Pat Mills and Sheila Davies recently to the disease and I decided to dedicate the ride to them," she said.

"I have always harboured a desire to cycle across Australia but I thought, in 2001, I could start nearer to home."

Mrs Dring, who admits her cycling prowess peaked with a Shrawley Activity Group trip many years ago, will be accompanied by her husband Doug.

Trundle

"During training he waits on every hill for me to trundle up slowly behind but he has agreed to cycle with me, carrying our luggage in his saddlebag," she said.

She said that on her new lightweight bike, she averages 10-12 miles an hour around Shrawley and aims to complete the cross-country trip in 18 days.

"I am appealing to people to sponsor me at £1 per mile and predict how long it will take me - for a bottle of scotch from John O' Groats, naturally," she added.

"With a lot of determination I believe I can achieve this ride and help out a little in the search for an answer to cancer."

Nine One-on-One health club members and instructor Sharon Redfern will accompany the couple for the fifth leg of the ride through Hereford.

The Drings will pass through Bodmin, Taunton, Bristol, Chepstow, Hereford, Shrewsbury, Warrington, Wigan, Kendal, Carlisle, Gretna Green, Glasgow, Fort William and Inverness.

For more information on sponsoring Mrs Dring on her ride, call 01905 620025.