A dedicated fundraiser will saddle up her bike to raise even more money for her favourite cancer charity.

Former Bradford head teacher Jan Cawley will cycle from Kracow to Warsaw in Poland in five days as part of the Marie Curie Cancer Care Great 500 Cycle Challenge in September.

"I will be cycling about 100km a day." said Mrs Cawley. "I am in training already by doing a half-hour ride every other day.

"Nearer to the event I will be doing three-to-five-hour rides and all-day rides.

"I will be one of 500 people taking part in the challenge so it should be a very exciting event."

The cyclists will ride from five European locations and converge on Warsaw, the birthplace of Marie Curie.

Mrs Cawley aims to raise another £2,000 for the charity from the challenge.

"I am hoping as many people as possible will support me and the charity by sponsoring me for the event," she said.

The 55-year-old grandmother has already climbed to Aztec site Machu Picchu, high in the Andes in Peru, to raise money for the charity that nursed one of her closest friends through her illness.

Sadly her friend lost her battle with cancer and died at the Marie Curie Hospice in Leeds Road, Bradford, only days after Mrs Cawley returned from the trip.

She raised £3,200 in sponsorship for the charity through completing the challenge.

Mrs Cawley said she is so driven to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care because so many of her loved ones' lives have been touched by the disease.

Both her parents died from cancer and her son had to have his right leg amputated after being diagnosed with cancer.

He has since been given the all-clear.

"Marie Curie Cancer Care is a charity that is very close to my heart because of all the wonderful work it does to support people who have cancer and their families," said Mrs Cawley.

Brenda Doyle, fundraising manager at Marie Curie Cancer Care, said: "I am delighted Jan has decided to take up another challenge. The charity relies on people like her to help us raise so much money.

"There are still lots of places available on the cycle tour and it would be wonderful to see more people from Bradford taking part."

For more information about the Marie Curie Cancer Care Great 500 Cycle Challenge contact Brenda Doyle on (01274) 337035 or visit www.great500.org.uk

To sponsor Mrs Cawley call 07710 887471.