An intrepid trio of cyclists will put their pedal power to the test while raising vital funds for a charity close to their hearts during a 170-mile tour of the county this weekend.

Alan Dawson, Becky Cooper and Bill Partner, who all work for Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust, will take part in the Cycle Sportives UK Round Norfolk Ride on Saturday.

The cyclists estimate it will take them around 12 hours to complete the tour, which starts at Great Yarmouth Race Course and winds its way towards Diss and Thetford, before making its way to King's Lynn and following the north Norfolk coastline back to Great Yarmouth. They are taking part in the challenge to raise money for Hospice Ethiopia, which has close links to the community health trust and is twinned with the NHS organisation's Priscilla Bacon Lodge, which provides specialist care to patients with life-limiting conditions from its base at Colman Road, in Norwich.

Mr Dawson, finance manager for children's services said: 'It will be a tough challenge, but doing it together will help as we will be able to push each other. The fact we are doing it for charity also gives us extra motivation and an added incentive as we don't want to let Hospice Ethiopia down.'

'I think we are all feeling a mix of excitement and trepidation. We will get a real sense of achievement when we complete the ride, but as we haven't covered that distance before there are also some nerves thrown in. We have been cycling together since January, and building up mileage gradually. We did our longest ride a couple of weeks ago, and covered 133 miles in nine hours, which has given us confidence we can go the distance.'

The event is the latest in a line of fundraisers which NCH&C staff have completed for Hospice Ethiopia, which provides home-based care and a day unit for people in Africa with advanced cancer and HIV.

To sponsor them, visit www.justgiving.com/Alan-Dawson2