Mountain bikers are being challenged to tackle one of the most demanding rides in the sport's calendar - and raise cash for disabled people at the same time.

Tim Ferguson, an outdoor education instructor, is to take on The Mountain of Hell in his bid to help the battle against Parkinson's Disease.

He has been inspired to compete in the three-day challenge in Les Dieux Alpes, France, by his father-in-law, Mel Jones, who has suffered from the disease for about 13 years.

Tim, 37, said: "When I met my wife Lyn about 13 years ago, her father had just been diagnosed. He was suffering mildly then but it is a nasty, progressive illness."

Tim, who is a director of the High Adventure Outdoor Education Centre at Cowling, near Keighley, is aiming to bank £3,400.

To help him hit the mark, he is challenging other mountain bike enthusiasts - he is looking for about nine or ten - to join him in the venture next July.

"The more of us there are, the more likely we are to reach the target," said Tim.

"The race, which attracts both amateur and professional riders, sets off from the glacier at 3,400 metres and finishes at about 600 metres.

"I want to raise £1 for every one metre of the 3,400 metres."

"Within the mountain bike sport, people say if there is one challenge to do it is this one - a single track downhill from this altitude makes it not for the faint-hearted.

"I also want to make it a bit more exciting for people who sponsor me as well.

"Instead of just begging for money from people, they will automatically get entered into a sweepstake - the prizes are coming from organisations which are already supporting me.

"I'm asking my sponsors to guess how long it will take me to complete the race and the number of crashes I have."

Tim, who has a 19-month-old daughter, Catrin, has already secured support from Fitness First in Keighley, Aire Valley Cycles in Keighley, Science in Sport and his own company.

Anyone wishing to join him or to sponsor the challenge can contact him on 07887 840499, 01535 630044 or on info@highadventureoec.co.uk.

e-mail: clive.white@bradford.newsquest.co.uk

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