A WOMAN from Hook is currently undertaking an epic 360-kilometre trip in South East Asia, all in aid of charity.

Maureen Herdman-Grant, who is 72, is cycling from Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam to Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

She arrived in Vietnam last Saturday, and will cycle for five days in aid of CLIC Sergeant.

Speaking to the Gazette before setting off, Maureen spoke about her motivation for the challenge.

“I thought why not?

“I was a child of the Vietnam War and it was always in the news.

“I have been to Vietnam about 15 years ago and I wanted to see how it changed.”

Maureen added that she has paid for her travel, so all of the money donated will go directly to the charity.

“It is jolly hard work but it is all for a good cause,” she added. “I never do it for a holiday, I always do it for charity.

“My brother taught me to ride my bike when I was 7. I would say a love for it but this is a bit epic. It is just something I do.”

The 72-year-old, who has recently had knee replacements, has undertaken 14 cycling challenges, her first coming in 2000, when she rode from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

Since then, she’s been to Brazil, Mexico, Laos, Kenya, China and Borneo.

However, it’s in Myanmar that holds her favourite memory.

“I think the best one I remember is riding through where the road was all dug up with a sign that said ‘Go Slow’,” she explains.

“Everyone was struggling and trying to get up this hill, it was tipping it down with rain.

“A local guy just rode past us effortlessly in flip flops.”

She also counts seeing orangutans in the wild in Sumatra as one of her favourite moments.

You can donate to Maureen’s ride by going to http://bit.ly/2oDLy7a.