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The fundraising is going brilliantly and we are confident of reaching the £2000 mark. The range of people that have sponsored us has been amazing and many are unknown to us so we would like to say how grateful we are.

Tom and Gary at the Uni

In terms of fears, our main worries concern the possibility of equipment failure and punctures. Lots of people have come forward with advice and a few cyclists have invited us to raid their sheds and garages for spares. Considering Gary's background,  I hope they know what they've let themselves in for - he'd steal the sugar from your tea!

Another possible problem is that although we have a map, canals are not well signposted so we will be relying on our mileometer and advice from locals along the way - we haven't purchased a sat-nav as yet but if someone is kind enough to lend us one that would be brilliant! As things stand it would only take one mischievous angler to give us the wrong directions and we could end up in Ipswich.

When we get to London we have a welcoming party of friends and family, ex-pats who have turned Finsbury Park into 'Little Kingswinford'. We should feel right at home - I've been told that instead of energy drinks and warm blankets, they will be meeting us with copies of the Express & Star, pints of Banks's and packets of scratchings!!

More information about Tom and Gary's charity challenge: www.justgiving.com/rogbrookes

JANUARY 2008 - THE TRAINING BEGINS

Tom Hicks, from Kingswinford, and Gary O'Dea, from Tipton, both work at the Department of Learning and Information Services, University of Wolverhampton.

When they got chatting they found that "we both do a bit of cycling" says Tom.

"Gary mentioned that he did most of his cycling along the canals and we thought it would be a good idea to have a go at a challenge."

"Awe inspiring care"

After deciding on the challenge - cycling from Wolverhampton to London by canal path - they settled on a good cause to raise money for.

"I immediately thought of the Mary Stevens Hospice as my father in law, Roger Brookes, spent his last days there." says Tom.

"Roger was diagnosed with cancer and unfortunately lost his battle against the disease. The care and support that the Hospice provided to both Roger and his family was truly awe inspiring.

"Perhaps the most surprising aspect of the work of the Hospice is that it relies solely on fundraising and other donations to keep the Hospice open."

In training

Tom and Gary plan to cycle to London in three days, 11th-13th April 2008, staying the night at guesthouses.

Although, says Tom, "it has been hard to plan it as we have found it difficult to calculate the exact distances. We are prepared to sleep in barns or in disused canal barges if we get stranded in the dark!"

Their first day in the saddle will see them cycling 80 miles to Blisworth. Are they fit enough?

Tom: "We have been in training since the New Year and we have been on a few runs. We are both fairly fit as Gary cycles regularly and I'm a member of Dudley Kingswinford Running Club, but the distances we are going to cover are new to us both.

"We know we will have to step up the training in the next few months!"

Helping the Hospice

Gary and Tom aim to raise one or two thousand pounds for the Hospice through sponsorship.

"We've had excellent support from the University and Tipton Town Football club have started the fundraising off with a generous donation of £200." says Tom.

The two intrepid Uni workers who 'both do a bit of cycling' are asking for sponsors, because:

"The Mary Stevens Hospice has to raise £1.25 million per year to stay open and the costs are ever increasing. Anyone who has been touched by cancer or other forms of terminal illness will appreciate the work and dedication of the hospice and its staff."

More information at: www.justgiving.com/rogbrookes