TWO young mountain bikers are stepping up to ride a gruelling 800 miles from Stourport Sports Club to John O'Groats to raise money for the Back on Track appeal.

Adam Reis, of Trimpley, an engineer, and Tom Archer, of Upper Arley, a gardener, both 20, will start their journey on April 18 and believe it will take between 15 and 18 days to complete.

Mr Reis said: "I am very excited and a little terrified as well but I can't wait to go. It's going to be an amazing trip and we will see some great things."

Mr Archer added: "It's going to be a great experience. When we get to John O' Groats it will be an incredible feeling. I'm really looking forward to it."

Mr Reis said they had been busy researching their route by studying 20 different maps and reading reports written by other bikers.

He explained they would be travelling mostly off road and following a zig-zag course around national parks and heritage sites such as Hadrian's Wall, the Pennines and the foothills of Ben Nevis.

Mr Reis added they were training by doing a bike ride every day, regular runs and playing football and squash at weekends. He said they had completed similar journeys before in France and Wales but this would be their biggest challenge yet.

He said: "When we read about the Shuttle/Times & News appeal it encouraged both of us to do this bike ride. It gave us a real reason to go through with it. We realised we could do something to help."

He added: "Sport's a big part of both our lives and Stourport Hockey Club and Kidderminster and Stourport Athletic Club are both local for us. We felt emotional about what has happened."

Mr Archer added: "It has been hard for everyone at the clubs and upset a lot of people around us. At the end of the day, these clubs are not just about sport but people getting together.""

They hope to raise £1,000 in sponsorship money and are approaching businesses in Wyre Forest for support. To sponsor them, e-mail backontrack@live.co.uk and leave contact details.