Blokes on Spokes reach for the skies.Byline: By Graeme Whitfield Cyclists are to pedal through five countries to raise money for the Great North Air Ambulance The Great North Air Ambulance (GNAA) is an English charity based in the United Kingdom. It provides air ambulance services across the North of England from the Scottish border south to North Yorkshire in the east and Cumbria in the west. . Eight men from north Northumberland are cycling from Lands End to John O'Groats on a route that takes them through England, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Northern, division of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1989 est. pop. 1,583,500), 5,462 sq mi (14,147 sq km), NE Ireland. Made up of six of the nine counties of the historic province of Ulster in NE Ireland, it is frequently called Ireland and Scotland. Their gruelling journey will see them travelling about 1,200 miles over 12 days in the hope of raising pounds 25,000. The team ( which includes five farmers, a gym owner and a caravan park manager ( is being led by Belford GP Dr Sebastian Moss. He said: "Some of the guys had been wanting to do a long bike ride for some time and they also wanted to raise money for the air ambulance air ambulance Emergency medicine A helicopter or, less commonly, a fixed wing aircraft, used to evacuate a person who requires immediate medical attention that cannot be provided at his/her current location . "The two ideas sort of came together. "We all value the air ambulance hugely in this part of the world and it seemed the perfect match. "We don't use the air ambulance a great deal, because the road ambulances do a great job, but there have been times when we've really needed it. "It has saved lives, that is certain, and the population here is tremendously supportive of what they do." The eight cyclists, aged 34 to 49, will start their ride at Lands End on June 3. They will cycle through south-west England into Wales, leaving Fishguard by ferry on the June 8 to cycle through the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland Northern Ireland: see Ireland, Northern. Northern Ireland Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland occupying the northeastern portion of the island of Ireland. Area: 5,461 sq mi (14,144 sq km). Population (2001): 1,685,267. for four days. They will then take a ferry from Ballycastle to Lochgilphead in Scotland to cycle to John O'Groats, arriving there by June 15, hopefully. Father-of-three Simon Manners, manager of Seafield Caravan Park in Seahouses, said: "The air ambulance is a vital service to the region and we all need to know that whatever we are doing in our daily lives, there is a lifeline for us in the event of a serious accident. "Keeping the air ambulance flying is a costly business, but we think cycling 100 miles each day is a small price to pay and we are determined that we will achieve our goal in the allotted time." The team, who call themselves Eight Blokes on Spokes, includes a number of former county rugby players. To support them all, send donations to Eight Blokes on Spokes, Belford Medical Practice, Croft Field, Belford, Northumberland
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