Mum-of-two Alison Grainger is preparing to put her pedal power to the test by cycling from London to Brussels.

Mrs Grainger, 38, of Ogbourne St Andrew, has signed up for the three cities cycle challenge, which is organised by Brighter Futures, and involves cycling at least 60 miles a day.

The charity supports hospital and community healthcare and maternity services across Wiltshire.

The challenge takes place in August and will see Mrs Grainger, a media consultant, travel from London to Amsterdam, finishing in Brussels.

She is taking part with friend Oonagh Fitzgerald, director of workforce and education at Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust, who took part in the hospital’s London to Paris cycle challenge last year.

Mrs Grainger said: “I wanted a challenge and this will be the first time I’ve cycled more than 40 miles in a day.

"I’ve been cycling for about a year, but I’m a fair weather cyclist. I did a mountain bike ride on December 29 and it nearly killed me.

“It’s hard fitting in training with work and two children, and my husband works away a lot.”

The pair will set off from London on August 27 and the challenge ends on August 31.

Mrs Grainger said: “Holland is quite flat so I’m looking forward to having no hills to cycle up for a couple of days, even though it means there are no hills to go down.”

Brighter Futures is looking for more riders to take part. Registration costs £99 and riders must raise £1,500 minimum sponsorship.

For more information, visit www.gwh.nhs.uk, call Jennifer Green on (01793) 605631, or email fundraising@gwh.nhs.uk