AN Augusta Park father is getting set to solo cycle 700 miles over the course of six days to raise money for an Andover-based charity.

Brady James will be cycling up to 150 miles a day from Andover to meet his family in the south of France while hoping to raise £1,000 for Andover Young Carers.

The father-of-four will set off on Thursday, August 16, travelling to Portsmouth to catch the overnight ferry to Caen.

He will then cycle the remaining 650 miles over five days taking in Angers, Saintes, Agen and Carcassonne before catching up with his wife and four children in St Cyprien, near to the Spanish border, on Tuesday, August 21.

Brady, who works as a product manager for Vodafone, has been inspired to raise money for Andover Young Carers because of the support the charity offers his daughter, Emma, who helps to care for her brother with autistic spectrum disorder.

He said: “Emma has more responsibility than someone her age normally would and because of that she goes to Andover Young Carers. My son has additional needs so my wife and I do rely on her to play with him and help him.”

He continued: “She has met friends at Andover Young Carers and they give each other support. They organise trips for them which gives her a chance to enjoy outings without the caring responsibility.

“By raising money I’m helping them to continue supporting young people like my daughter and it is nice to do something for a local charity as well.”

The 43-year-old began cycling three years ago which has helped him lose four stone in that time.

On taking on the 700-mile challenge, he said: “It is intimidating. It is not so much being on my own but more the distance that I will be doing.

“I have cycled those distances in training before but not back to back.”

Brady is hoping to raise £750 with his epic cycle ride which Vodafone will then match up to £350.

To donate to the cause, visit his justGiving page at justgiving.com/fundraising/pedalmed.