LOCAL teacher Rachel John is one step closer to her Big Heart Bike Ride Challenge this week, having raised the £2,500 minimum sponsorship needed to take part in the event.

The funds were raised through sponsorship, donations from local businesses and a number of charity events.

A recent comedy night held at the Sporting Chance in Red Roses raised £703.50. Comedian/singer Paul Dazely wowed the crowd with his fast-paced comedy routine and renditions of well-known songs. The Sporting Chance laid on a superb buffet for the 55 audience members and a fantastic night was had by all.

Rachel would like to thank the following local businesses for their sponsorship and raffle prize donations: Tenby Backpackers, Summerhill Farm Shop, Get Stuffed Pizza Co, the Hope and Anchor, Bliss Nails, County Clothes, Heatherton, W. H. Smith, Sainsbury's, Lolly's, Sashel, T. P. Hughes, Walk on Water, Underground, Tenby Watersports, The Baytree, Waterloo House, Ocean Restaurant and Blue Lagoon.

A huge thank you to everyone who has sponsored Rachel so far and attended the various fund-raising events.

Rachel is taking part in Big Heart Bike Ride, a unique cycling challenge to raise funds to help fight heart disease through the work of four UK charities.

Funds raised by the challenging 420km ride through Egypt's spectacular Sinai Desert will be divided equally between CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), The British Heart Foundation, Echo UK (The Tiny Tickers Charity) and H.E.A.R.T UK.

The Big Heart Bike Ride in Sinai takes place from November 7 - 15 and will be an amazing five-day cycling adventure in 'The Sinai triangle' - twice the size of Belgium and part of the Sahara Belt.

The route will include challenging on and off-road cycling covering between 50 and 120 kms a day. The group will cycle past narrow wadis, colourful canyons and rugged granite mountains, camping out under the stars on two nights and finishing on the shores of the Red Sea. Highlights include a visit to the pyramids at Giza and a sunrise climb of Mount Sinai.

This is an extremely challenging event and Rachel is already training hard to ensure she is fit enough to complete the cycle ride.

This minimum sponsorship is just the start and Rachel will continue to raise money throughout the next few months which will be used locally to help fund a CRY screening unit to visit Pembrokeshire and screen local young people for potential heart defects.

To pledge your support for Rachel, please contact her on 07795 633 178, email [email protected]">[email protected], or join her Facebook group 'Rachie Roo's Big Heart Bike Ride' for further details.