FIVE FOOTBALL fans from Gloucestershire, South Gloucestershire and Bristol are set to follow their team all the way to London by bike to raise money for charity.

Bristol City fans Paul Hocking, Rob Levenston, Tony Warren, Danny Miles and Rob Keitch, who hail from Charfield, Berkeley, Yate and Bristol, will pedal their way to Griffin Park for the away match against Brentford next Saturday.

The 140-mile journey to the capital will see the group set off on the Friday from Ashton Gate, to hopefully arrive in time for the 3pm kick off, raising money for charity partnership B Strong U Belong (BSUB).

BSUB, who has partnered with mental health charities Off The Record and Second Step, was charity was set up to help raise awareness of mental health, with the inspiration behind it being a close friend of the team, Pete Davies, who sadly took his life in 2012 whilst silently suffering with mental health problems.

Off The Record focus on young people’s mental health and run various services and projects alongside young people to promote and improve mental health and wellbeing.

Meanwhile, Second Step offer housing, support and hope to hundreds of people with many kinds of mental health problems. 

Charfield resident Paul, a lifelong City supporter, said he was looking forward to the challenge.

He told the Gazette: “It’s not the regular way of travelling to an away match, but what with the train fares these days we thought we’d take this option.

“In all seriousness though, we are taking on this challenge as complete cycling novices, so it’s going to be tough, much like watching the City at the moment.

“But it’s for two amazing charities who do excellent work in the region”.

He added that the group’s thanks go out to Nailsea-based company ET Fabrications for sponsoring their efforts by helping to cover costs of the journey.

Anyone wishing to sponsor their challenge can do so by visiting www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/BSUBcycle4mentalhealth