SADDLERS' season-ticket holder, Scott Westwood will be attempting a gruelling Lands End to John O'Groats bike ride later this month to raise funds for Walsall Hospice. "I've been a keen cyclist for the past ten years or so," he said. "The Lands End to John O'Groats challenge is something that has appealed to me for a while and I actually made the decision to do it around six months ago when I was attending a game at Bescot Stadium and saw an advertising campaign from the Walsall Hospice who were keen to raise funds in order to complete a building project.

"It didn't take me long to decide that I wanted to help and completing this bike ride was the ideal way.

"I've not really done any specific training as I'm hoping that the miles I've put in over the winter as part of base training for racing and the general rides and races I've done over the spring and summer will carry me through.

"In saying that, more recently I have upped the mileage a bit in an attempt to get my legs used to the pounding they are going to take!"

Scott's determination to succeed has been further fuelled by the fact that a member of his cycling club, Walsall Roads CC, holds the Ladies World Record for the ride. "Having the Ladies World Record holder as part of our club means that the 'end to end' challenge is quite special amongst our members and I am determined to be the latest one to complete it, whilst also raising much-needed funds for such a worthwhile, local cause."

The 34 year-old will start the ride on August 25th and will average 130 miles per day before finishing on August 31st. His route will take him from Lands End to Tiverton on day one, he is then hoping to reach Upton-on-Severn by the end of day two before making it to Wigan by the end of day three. Day four will see him enter Scotland as he aims to reach Lockerbie, with Kinross his final destination on day five. The penultimate day sees him aiming to reach Inverness in the Highlands before completing the epic journey on day seven.

"I've taken a slightly different approach to most people by setting up a strict timetable of exactly where I want to be by the end of each day," he added. "I've even booked my accommodation in advance, so it's a case of having to reach these destinations!"

Anyone wishing to sponsor Scott, please contact Sharon Woodland at the Walsall Hospice on 01922-858 631 or you can write to her at Walsall Hospice, Bloxwich Hospital, Reeves Street, Walsall WS3 2JJ.

Any assistance that you can give, no matter how big or small, will be much appreciated....