A RYEDALE ambulance technician is set to cycle 1,000 miles in 125 hours to raise money for a local hospice.

Kev Denby, who lives just outside Malton, will set off on August 7 and aims to raise £1,000 for Saint Catherine’s Hospice.

The ride goes from London to Edinburgh and back again, covering 250 miles per day.

It been organised by Audax UK cycling club and 2,500 people will take part.

Kev, 49, has worked for the ambulance service for the past nine years.

Prior to this, he served in the Royal Artillery for 24 years which included tours of Afghanistan, Bosnia, Iraq and Northern Ireland.

He said: “Working for Yorkshire Ambulance Service I’ve witnessed the outstanding dedication, compassion and professionalism that Saint Catherine's Hospice brings to so many people and their families, so I wanted to give something back.”

Kev also had a good friend from the military who received hospice care in Preston, which encouraged him to support the hospice sector.

Despite being a keen cyclist, Kev said he has never completed this kind of distance before under such strict time constraints.

He said “For me it’s not about the time, it’s about the challenge.”

Susan Stephenson, communications and marketing manager at Saint Catherine’s, said:  “We wish him all the luck in the world and thank him for his brilliant support and kind words about our care.”

To find out more or to sponsor Kev’s efforts, visit his JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/kev-denby