Tenby-born actor Charles Dale is hoping to join his brother-in-law Richard Harrison and friend Ed Spankie in their bid to cycle 1,000 miles from Lands End to John O'Groats. Charles is hoping to join them on the stage entering into Wales and, subject to his busy filming commitments, other stages along the route.

All three have had first-hand experience of losing close members of their families to cancer and can endorse the marvellous work done by Macmillan Cancer Support. The opportunity to raise funds for the charity is something they all feel very strongly about.

Richard, from Tenby, who was not noted as an athlete at Greenhill School, has taken part in distance swims to Caldey, 16 marathons, including London, Dublin and Paris, various triathlons and is now into distance cycling, having completed the London to Paris and the Coast to Coast (Whitehaven to Tynemouth)

Ed Spankie, managing director of Consort Equipment Products, Milford Haven, came to Pembrokeshire in 1988; he only took up cycling two years ago to relax!

However, the challenge soon came and he has ridden the London to Paris Charity Ride for the British Legion and the Coast to Coast with Richard. The idea for the Lands End to John O'Groats (known as 'LeJog') came from an uncle who completed the ride a few years ago at age 70. Ed decided not to leave it so long!

At present they are working hard on their training, although Charles, who is presently appearing in the current series of 'Belonging', is busy with his other filming commitments. His training so far has consisted mainly of cycling locally, with his three- year-old son Laurie in tow! He has promised to turn out and do what he can to ride with them on parts of the journey, which starts at Lands End on June 10.

It didn't take much persuasion to get Richard's father, Ray Harrison (who had finally retired!) to become their support driver for the 14-day trip. Hopefully, all he will have to do is to brew the tea on their regular stops and remember how to change a tyre - he hopes that there won't be too many punctures!

The real challenge is to raise as much money for Macmillan Cancer Support (previously known as Macmillan Cancer Relief). Here in South and West Wales, in the counties of Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire, over 2,000 patients were diagnosed with cancer in 2003 alone. Macmillan Cancer Support is aiming to raise £800,000 in the next three years to be able to provide six new cancer specialists to help families in south west Wales!

Special thanks must already go to Wick Van Hire, of Bridgend, and Jackie Harries, of the Beach Shops, Barry Island, who have supplied a support vehicle for the trip.

Charles, Richard, Ed and Ray invite readers to go into http://www.bike1000.co.uk">www.bike1000.co.uk for more details of the challenge and for ways that they can help.

Alternatively, donations can be made via http://www.justgiving.com/bike1000">www.justgiving.com/bike1000 or at any NatWest Bank plc - to MacmillanBike 1000, (NatWest Bank plc, Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven) A/C No 9052317, Bank Sort Code 54 10 07.