'Home alone' trek for charity.

A DAD-OF-TWO is gearing up for a lone cycle ride from Land's End to John O'Groats.

With no support or company, Graeme Holdsworth from Ingleby Barwick will cover 100 miles a day from May 16 to 26 on his mountain bike, staying in youth hostels overnight.

"It's quite a big challenge for me," he said. "Getting back on the bike each day after having done 100 miles the day before is going to take some determination, and without anyone to speak to I might just start to go a little mad!

"I've done a few long distance rides but this is the biggest thing I'm trying to do."

He decided to set himself the challenge to raise money for the homeless charity Centrepoint.

He is paying all his expenses so every penny goes to the charity.

He explained why he decided to help Centrepoint.

"When I left university I was on income support and my wife and I managed to get housing benefit while I found myself a proper job," he said.

"I found that a lot of people struggled to get housing benefit and the forms were so complicated and you can see why some people find themselves homeless.

"Like many people who don't want to give money to kids begging because they're concerned it'll go on drink or drugs, I wanted to give to a charity that would help them get back on their feet properly."

Graeme has so far raised pounds 1,500. The 37-year-old, who lives with wife Carol and their two children, Katherine, 13, and Edward, nine, works as an account manager for PerkinElmer and has had a lot of support from colleagues, as well as friends and family.

Anyone who would like to support Graeme can do so at justgiving.com/graemeholdsworth

CAPTION(S):

NOT AN EASY RIDER: Graeme Holdsworth prepares for his gruelling charity cycle ride from Land's End to John O'Groats Pictures by ANDREW GRAY; GOING MILES: Charity rider Graeme is all set to begin his UK trek