A Bradford University researcher from Shipley is to saddle up for a 12-hour mountain biking challenge after "flying doctors" saved a fellow cyclist.

Andy Holland signed up for next month's gruelling overnight forest race to raise funds for the Air Ambulance Foundation.

The 27-year-old - who is studying for a PhD in forensic archaeology and anthropology as well as being research assistant in human remains collections - was inspired after cyclist Russ Pinder was saved by one of Britain's twenty crews.

Andy said: "Russ had a bad crash riding a trail called The Gap in Wales where he crushed his vertebrae.

"Sadly he is now paralysed from the waist down but his chances of survival would have been a lot worse if it weren't for the air ambulance who airlifted him to the local hospital."

Andy is in training for the Marin Dusk til Dawn event, a 12-hour race through Thetford Forest on the Norfolk-Suffolk border.

He said: "The AAF is invaluable to people who take part in all kinds of outdoor pursuits including cycling, walking, horse riding, climbing and fell running.

"The organisation is run solely on charity donations and with servicing costs of more than £1 million a year and each callout costing on average £1,000, fundraising is vital to its survival."

Competitors covering the ten-mile laps of course have to tackle hills, winding narrow tracks, fast forest roads and stream fords from 8pm on Saturday, September 20 until 8am the following day.

Cyclists can compete in teams, with one person from each team continually on the track, or solo like Andy.

Russ's fiancee, Kirsten Ward, 23, will be helping him by boiling up pasta meals and giving him drinks during his permitted short breaks.

"A week before the event, I will starve myself of carbohydrates and eat a lot of protein, then two days before will load up with carbohydrates to have enough energy," he said.

"It will be difficult, but I hope to do eight laps, possibly even ten."

Andy is cycling for the Russ Pinder Appeal, which raises money for the air ambulances.

To sponsor him, ring 07803 601790 or email him at a.d.holland@Bradford.ac.uk.

For more information about the Russ Pinder Appeal and its events, go to www.russ-appeal.org.uk