What it's all about

A pair of Wellingtons will be on Roger Hicks' wish list this spring when he sets out on a 10,500-mile solo cycle ride from the UK to New Zealand.

For the Exeter-based Animal Health Officer is taking a year’s sabbatical to pedal from near his home in the Somerset town of Wellington to the Kiwi capital, which was founded in the 19th century by four former pupils from nearby Wellington School.

Roger, who will be raising money for Cystic Fibrosis sufferers and the Fragile X Society, is set to depart on March 14 on his ‘Wellython’, which will take him to the other side of the globe via Europe, the Middle East - including Iran - South East Asia and Papua New Guinea. He aims to arrive in Wellington, New Zealand, by Christmas, and to spend the festive season with his daughter and her family in Napier on the North Island before flying home.

“I’ll be cycling for around 10,500 miles and aim to do about 50 miles a day,” said 57-year-old Roger, who raised £1,800 for the Cystic Fibrosis charity with a marathon bike ride from John O’Groats to Lands End in November 2001.

“I’ve already started training for the trip by cycling the 40-odd miles to and from work in Exeter each day, and I’m also busy seeking as much sponsorship as I can get for the trek.”

Roger is keen to keep Animal Health colleagues abreast of his progress during the nine-month ride, and is looking to establish a website where he can upload photographs of his adventures at various points along the way. He particularly aims to keep Exeter AHDO colleagues Fiona Mortimer, Kim Loosemore, Neil Sampson and Suzanne Drysdale updated on his progress with regular texts and internet café emails.

“My bike has been built to a high specification to cope with the differing terrain, and will be loaded with all equipment for rough camping – it should be a real journey to remember,” he added.

If you would like to support Roger's WELLYTHON then email wellython2008@googlemail.com