A COUPLE of pensioners are strapping on their cycle helmets to take on a “gruelling” trek for charity.

Lucia and David Borradaile, from Stoke Abbot, will pedal their way from Land’s End all the way to John O’Groats.

They are doing it to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.

The couple are both former racehorse trainers, will cycle 1,047 miles over 12 days to complete the challenge.

Mrs Borradaile said: “Having given up the racehorses and invested in road bikes on a whim, we signed up to undertake this gruelling challenge “When we gave up the horses, my husband needed another challenge to keep him busy.

“We have got a good eight weeks to train for it and we have not found it very easy so far.

“It’s going to be pretty gruelling.”

The keen cyclists are enjoying training for the challenge in west Dorset and hope they will be all set when they set off in Cornwall on Tuesday, August 30.

The couple, both in their 70s, are hoping to complete the ride in John O’Groats in Scotland by September 11 and will be joining a group of cyclists much younger than them.

Mrs Borradaile added: “Us two oldies are joining in a group of 20-year-olds so hopefully we can keep up.

“We’re so fortunate to have this countryside on our doorstep to train for it and we have need to keep focused and keep going.

“Luckily the Dorset hills are helping us get further.

“Seeing how much people have already given us will give us that motivation to keep going when we are training.

The couple are passionate about raising money for the Alzheimer’s Society and are keen to help support carers who look after people with the “awful disease.”

“The pain of the training is nothing compared to the grief and suffering of those with this awful disease and their families who have to care for them,” added Mrs Borradaile.

“We have got friends who have got it.

“It’s such a horrible thing for people to have to go through, and we wanted to raise money for the research that goes into fighting the disease and also carers who wonderfully look after people with it.”

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting 62 per cent of those who are diagnosed with the disease.

There are 850,000 people with dementia in the UK, with numbers set to rise to more than 1 million by 2025.

This will soar to 2 million by 2051. An estimated 225,000 will develop dementia this year, that’s one person every three minutes.

The couple have already raised almost £4,500 for the charity, and are aiming to tally up £10,000 in total by the time they have completed the challenge.

To support Mr and Mrs Borradaile on their challenge, please visit justgiving.com/fundraising/davidandluciaborradaile