NANTWICH Cycling Group will be taking on the epic challenge of a 200-mile bike ride from Nantwich to London in July, in aid of Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity MRI Scanner Appeal.

The team will set off at dawn on Friday, July 3 from the centre of Nantwich, and ride with a planned finish on the Mall in London, in just one day.

The route will take the group down through Shropshire, the West Midlands, the Cotswolds, Oxford and Buckinghamshire, before reaching London where they will make a final approach crossing Tower Bridge, past the London Eye, Big Ben, Westminster, and Buckingham Palace before finishing on the Mall.

Darren Knights, founder member of Nantwich Cycling Group, said: "This challenge sums up the pinnacle of what can be achieved in a day as an amateur cyclist.

"None of us have done anything like this kind of distance before, and to do this in just one day to reach our goal will be incredibly hard.

"We are sure that the support of the local community and businesses will really help spur us on and make a big difference in helping Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity reach their £1 million goal."

Nantwich Cycling Group was only formed last year and already has more than 340 members, with riders joining forces from beginners, leisure riders, right up competition riders.

The group has already impacted on the health and wellbeing within the local community, with many members benefitting from improvements in their overall fitness, weight loss and social benefits with members gaining many new and supportive friends to encourage and motivate them. The MRI Scanner Appeal seemed an ideal cause for the group to support.

Laura Riddle, charity manager of Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity, added: "I’d like to thank Nantwich Cycling Group for choosing Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity as their chosen charity for this absolutely amazing challenge. It’s fantastic to see so many people get behind the appeal and support our local community."

For those interested in joining Nantwich Cycling Group and getting involved, simply visit the group’s Facebook group facebook.com/groups/nantwichcycling .

You can donate directly to the MRI Scanner Appeal online by visiting mchcharity.org or text mchc00 and your amount to 70070. Maximum donation by text is £10.