SOCIOLOGY graduate Kate Tattersall from Ogbourne St George is planning to cycle 47 miles to raise funds towards an AIDS project in South Africa.

Miss Tattersall, 22, will be joining a Students Partnership Worldwide project in South Africa later this year helping to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS among 18 to 28-year-olds in rural communities.

The former St John's School, Marlborough, student is trying to raise money to help fund her trip and she hit on the idea of a sponsored cycle ride, covering one mile for every 100,000 people in South Africa infected with the HIV/AIDS virus.

She said: "When I planned the ride I had no idea that I would be cycling a total of 47 miles all in one day."

She has been training by cycling nine miles each way every day to her temporary job in Swindon.

Her parents Emma and Mike Tattersall will be acting as her support crew and they each plan to cycle half the distance with her.

Miss Tattersall said she was looking forward to her nine-month stay in South Africa working with young people. "The idea is that they will see the volunteers as friends and will feel comfortable in asking them questions and discussing the problems."

The bike ride will be on September 22 and offers of sponsorship should be made to 07966 738923.

Miss Tattersall has previously spent four months teaching English in India. She has also made two trips to Marlborough's link community, Gunjur, in The Gambia.