TON up charity fund raisers have kick-started their bid to support St David’s Hospice Care by riding scooters from Newport to John O’Groats to Lands End and back home.

The magnificent eight scooterists will tackle the 2,000-plus mile trip riding machines with engines ranging in size from 150cc to 300cc mounted on traditional scooter wheels of just ten inches in diameter.

Wildcat Scooters Ltd, of Albany Street, Newport, has teamed up with the Cwmbran All Stars Scooter Club for the six-day expedition which starts on Sunday, August 14 from Newport and returns to the city on Saturday, 20 August.

The ride aims to raise money for Newport-based St David’s Hospice Care as well as the Ieuan The Lion charity.

Shaun Martin and Bob Rendell, directors of Wildcat Scooters Ltd, said: “There are eight guys, with ages ranging from 33 to 73, taking part in the ride with one bloke even coming all the way from Italy to join us.

“The way we’ve planned it is that we’ll ride from Newport up to John O’Groats then back down to Lands End before returning home to Newport - we’ll effectively be doing the trip twice and all on our trusty scooters.

“Rider fatigue will be the biggest problem, especially if there’s any bad weather. We aim to avoid motorways and there are some big mile days, 250 to 300 miles, on the trip. This is a big ask on 10 inch scooter wheels.

“Most of us have done long distances in the UK. One of the guys has been across the US, Africa and most of Europe on a scooter. We’ll ride 'A' roads in the main but if we are forced to use a motorway we will.”

Bob Rendell said he has a personal reason for wanting to raise money for St David’s Hospice Care: “St Anne’s Hospice (which is run by St David’s Hospice Care) looked after my mother in her final weeks after she was diagnosed with cancer.

“St Anne’s ensured that my mother had some dignity and real care in her final weeks of life. The environment was one of tranquil, friendly professionalism and you knew immediately that the place and the staff put the interests of the patients first.”

Franca Nigro, of St David’s Hospice Care, said: “We’re used to supporters of St David’s Hospice Care going to great lengths to support us but this scooter ride must be among one of the biggest challenges ever. We wish the scooterists the very best of luck and look forward to welcoming them back to the Day Hospice in Newport after they have successfully completed their trip.”

You can keep up to date with their progress in the lead up to and during the event by following them on Facebook Wildcat Scooters Charity Tour Facebook Event Page Wildcat Scooters Ltd Facebook Page

Go to their Just Giving Page to make a donation and help keep them going on this epic challenge:www.justgiving.com/teams/peterfryer.