TWO friends from Pewsey Vale put pedal to the metal at Tesco Marlborough on Sunday where they raised more than £400 from a static cycle.

Ben Higham, 39 of Easton Royal, and Darren Tapper, 47 of Pewsey, rode at the supermarket for six hours as they prepare to ride 2,000km for two weeks through mainland Italy and Sicily in aid of the Alzheimer's Society.

The duo have now surpassed the £4,000 mark but are still keen to reach their goal of £10,000 when they hop on their saddles from Brennero on the Italian-Austrian border to Trapani on the western tip of Sicily next month.

"We had a really fun day out on the bikes and we are very grateful to the people of Marlborough for their support," said Mr Tapper.

"We head off in less than a month now and we are really excited. We should be okay for it. It will be tough but it is a good challenge.

"On March 25 we are doing another static cycle ride in Devizes so hopefully we can raise another good amount then."

Mr Higham chose Alzheimer's Society as his aunt suffered from the condition and this has spurred him on to take part in the Italian Cycle Challenge.

The painter and brick layer duo completed a 1,600km cycle from John O'Groats to Paris in 2010, where they raised around £3,000 for the charity Children with Leukaemia, and together they hope that that experience will put them in good stead for their next challenge.

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