A TEAM of cyclists will be pedalling from Lands End to John O' Groats in aid of the Male Cancer Awareness Campaign.

The group are all from the Cleveland Wheelers cycling club and will set off on Friday, June 16 from the Lands End Visitor Centre.

They are expected to take nine days to complete the journey, cycling between 95 and 130 miles each day.

The riders will be staying in pubs, hotels, B&Bs and youth hostels along the way with the route taking them through Iddesleigh, Bristol, Burton on Trent, Helmsley, Alnwick, Edinburgh, Braemar and Inverness before ending at John O' Groats.

A fund raising event will be held in the Hill Street Shopping Centre, Middlesbrough on April 8 and 9.

The Northern Echo:

We spoke with some of those taking part:

Derek Scott 57, cycled this route in 2013

"I cycle for fun and am not a member of any cycling club. I want to raise funds to highlight early detection of various cancers in men and to remove the stigma of "it won't happen to me ".

"I am off to Majorca next week to start training in earnest in the mountains around Palma. I am looking forward to seeing all the guys lined up at Lands End in their suits."

John Carr, aged 65, has been riding his bike since the age of five.

"I have raced all my life and toured Spain and Portugal twice. I was cyclo cross national champion twice. I have always wanted to ride the Land's End to John O' Groats route.

"I want to help raise money for male cancer awareness and am looking forward to riding with like-minded people. It's going to be a fantastic nine days. I do between 7,000 and 10,000 miles a year on the road."

Ian Fairweather, 48, has had bikes on and off all his life, but started road biking in 2015 for a five-day, 300 mile ride from Leamington Spa to Durham

"I am looking for a personal challenge and to raise awareness of male cancers. I have been putting in the indoor trainer session hours, keeping up my weekly club runs, and getting into a habit of 200km Audax rides.

"I am looking forward to seeing from one end of the nation to the other under my own power, riding with old and new friends."

Roy Stewart, is 51, and used to road race while at school and college

"I did Lands End to John O' Groats in 1988 in ten days. I took a 33-year break from cycling until three years ago when I couldn't get out of the armchair without rolling out.

"So far this year I have done three rides of more than 100 miles each and covered 2,176 miles in preparation. Some of us are doing some sportives to get ready for the hills.

"What I am looking forward to is seeing the county again from top to bottom and each day looking forward to my bed. What I am not looking forward to is the legs hurting for the first 45 minutes everyday while they realise it's for real.

"Once we have done this, Mick Hettings and I will be following it up with a ride from Caernarvon to Chepstow in a day, a total of 185 miles."

Chris Pope 57, has always ridden, mainly mountain bikes

"I had my hip replaced in August 2015 and following this bought a road bike as part of my rehab/recovery. "I really enjoyed that and so joined Cleveland Wheelers to get out more regularly.

"I cycled with the Steady Eddy group who are always looking for challenges. It was decided that LEJOG would be something worthwhile and raising money for cancer research fitted hand in glove with this. My training has taken a back seat until last week but now I'm in full flight and building up steadily to be as bike fit as I can be for the June 15."

Michael Gettings, 51, has always been fit and active as a result of serving with the Army

"After leaving I got a bit stagnated and put on the pounds slowly. I got a road bike three years back and steadily kicked my self back into shape.

"I rode from London to Middlesbrough last year in three days. One of the lads got me a cycling magazine while I was recuperating after being knocked off my bike in October."

Karen Catterson, is aged 54, and a total novice

"I have only done a few rides and have been training on the turbo at home. I am hoping to get out on the road in next couple of weeks with the team to get some serious miles in. It's a worthy cause and we hope to raise lots of awareness for male cancer. It will be a great personal achievement."

Mike Guess, aged 54, has cycled to work on and off and then, after a conversation in the pub, took the mountain bike to Guisborough Woods

"I started to get fit and healthier and four years ago got a road bike. Now I cycle to work regularly and do 40-plus miles on a weekend, sometimes more. I rode across the country in one day and I was looking at doing the LEJOG when I heard some of the Wheelers 'Steady' group were doing it, so joined in.

"The charity was a bonus and if it helps just one person to check himself and get treated, then it is worth it.

I am looking forward to the hills in Cornwall and Scotland and cannot think of any negatives!"