A Welsh Assembly worker from Caerphilly has begun a 10,000 kilometre cycle ride to Istanbul for charity.
John Chick set off on his mammoth bike ride from Cardiff to Turkey and back last week.
He is aiming to raise £10,000 for Velindre Cancer Centre and Tŷ Hafan Hospice as he travels on his own through 12 different countries.
John, who heads up the team that provides support for Assembly Members, said: “I chose Istanbul simply because it was as far across Europe as I could get and no, it wasn’t supposed to be Ynysybwl, as someone asked.
“I decided to take on the challenge after a number of friends and relatives were diagnosed with cancer. I thought the most constructive thing I could do was to raise money for charities to fight it.
“I chose Tŷ Hafan because I wanted to raise money for a children’s charity as well.
“The response from work colleagues has been superb – everyone has been completely positive giving words of encouragement, offering practical support and holding fund-raising events to help me reach my target.
“I’d like to thank the Assembly Commission for supporting me in making this challenge possible.”
The Presiding Officer of the National Assembly for Wales, Rosemary Butler AM said: “All of us at the National Assembly wish John all the best in this enormous and worthy challenge.
“The Assembly Commission strives to support staff in their development and, wherever possible, their personal endeavours.
“In this instance John is taking an unpaid five-month career break to achieve his goal and people at the Assembly have been holding their own fund-raising events to help him.”
People can find out how John is getting on in his challenge by visiting www.100000kchallenge.org.uk