A HAMPSHIRE Fire and Rescue staff member will be in the saddle for a mammoth stint to raise money for charity.

Tony Jupp, a driver trainer for Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, will be taking part in the London Nightrider, a 100km cycle ride through the capital city.

The 53-year-old from Beggarwood will be taking on the cycling challenge in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity, which helped and supported him after an operation on his shoulders in 2017.

Tony said: “After the operation, I attended rehab in Littlehampton for a while, and they were fantastic.

“So I have decided to help them back.”

While he is a cyclist himself, it is still a relatively new hobby for Tony, as he only took up road cycling a year ago.

He added: “I’ve been training hard, the furthest that I have gone so far is 54 miles (roughly 87km), and I have been spinning in my garage in training.

“I’ve also been practicing with the Hatch Warren and Beggarwood Cycling Club, who have been a great help.”

While this is the first event of its kind that Tony has taken part in, he is feeling positive for the night-time cycle which will be taking place on June 9.

He added: “It will be a great atmosphere on the night, and it is starting after 11pm, so it will be nice to see London lit up in the dark.

“The route takes us all round a fair few sights around London, and hopefully the weather will be warm and pleasant, given that it will be in June.”

Tony is a former driving examiner in Basingstoke and added the transition to teaching firefighters to drive their vehicles was not so difficult.

Tony said: “I fancied doing it, and after my years supervising drivers, it is very rewarding to teach people to drive the emergency vehicles safely.

Tony’s target for fundraising is £500, with him currently having a total of £380.

To support Tony’s fundraising campaign, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/Tony-Jupp.