A TEAM from Chippenham Hospital will turn pedal power into pounds when its members cycle hundreds of miles at the weekend.

The group of women, aged in their 40s and 50s, only took up the sport five months ago when they joined the Chippenham and District Wheelers.

The 11 healthcare professionals, who work in the health visitors and school nurses department, will cover enough ground to reach the Taurus Mountains in Turkey. They set off tomorrow, joined by three of their husbands, and will each cycle 50 miles a day around New Forest National Park in Hampshire until Sunday.

They hope to raise £1,500 for Wiltshire Mind and the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

Health visitor assistant Rose Donnachie, 55, of Beanacre, said: “Someone mentioned we ought to do something to keep fit. At Easter we started going to the Castle Combe race circuit and then we thought, ‘Let’s challenge ourselves’. Some of our bikes were a bit rusty but many of us are running around a lot in our jobs so we’ve got staying power.”

The group trains at Castle Combe on Tuesday evenings from April to September.

Community nursery nurse Corinna Davidson, 40, of Calne, said: “We’re excited, it’s a good team builder. I think the most pressure is on me as one of the youngest.”

The others are from Chippenham, Marshfield, Great Somerford, Royal Wootton Bassett, Corsham, Market Lavington and Bristol. The team has raised more than £150 for Wiltshire Mind at www.virginmoneygiving. com/team/WAAAM and more than £300 for Wiltshire Air Ambulance at www.just giving.com/WAAAM