A GANG of biker friends are about to take on an epic challenge after signing up to ride to 92 grounds in 92 hours to raise money for charity.

John Herriman, who works in The Northern Echo's advertising department, and his fish and chip shop owner friend Gary Taylor have set themselves the task of travelling the country on their motorbikes for a cause close to their hearts.

Mr Herriman's mother Margaret needs 24 hour care after developing vascular dementia. She is looked after by his sister Anne Burton and he is trying to raise thousands of pounds to keep open a dementia café threatened by funding cuts.

The 54-year-old, of Eaglescliffe, and Mr Taylor, 46, who runs Frydays in the town, have planned the UK Football Ground Challenge, a route totalling 2,289 miles between football clubs starting in Sunderland on July 22 before travelling around the North-East, the North West, Yorkshire, Midlands, Wales, the south coast, London and East Anglia, ending at the Riverside, Middlesbrough.

Both Boro fans, John will ride his KTM690, accompanied by Gary on a Ducati Multistrada, hoping to raise awareness about the condition and thousands of pounds for the café in Louth, Lincolnshire.

“Vascular dementia is a truly horrible condition and I can’t speak highly enough of my sister for nursing our mum,” said John, a former Roary the Lion Boro mascot for three years.

“Mum used to be a school teacher in Great Ayton and still has moments of clarity where she shows her great sense of humour. Stimulation is key and that is why the café, with all its activities, is so important to help to sustain that.”

Canadian company Terraclean has adopted Dementia UK as its 2017 charity and £4,000 has already been raised for the cause.

Three of John’s Newcastle friends, who work for Terraclean, are planning to do the 92 challenge later this year.

They will have van support to collect any merchandise the clubs donate for a charity auction.

John said: “It is going to be a hard ride; we have to visit 30 grounds on the first day, then 20 a day after that. It works out at 575 miles a day, 200 more than I have done in a day previously. We will need to do plenty of filtering in Birmingham and London at night too. The main thing is to stay safe though and get home in one piece.”

Anyone interested can follow their progress on www.facebook.com/92in92/ from 7am this Saturday, or to donate via www.justgiving.com/fundraising/team-terraclean