TWO intrepid cyclists in their late 70s who are recovering from cancer, are cycling 800 miles through Spain and France to raise money for charities.

Richard Bartlett, 79, and Gil Gill, 77, will start from Bilbao in northern Spain this month and finish in Roscoff, Brittany, taking about four weeks.

Both are lifetime cyclists, and members of the Teign Valley Pedal Bashers. They will be accompanied on the ride by a younger member, Dave Rice, acting as ‘minder’.

Richard ran Bridge Stores in Shaldon for many years, and Gil and his wife Jenny founded an estate agents in the village.

The pair have known each other for about 40 years, and first met doing voluntary work at Shaldon Primary School, and in the 1980s they ran the Cubs and Scouts. They are also long term members of the Grimspound Border Morris Team.

In 2016 Gil was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, and was put on a course of chemotherapy as well as starting hormone therapy. He strongly advises all men over 50 to have a PSA test in order to prevent any prostate cancer from becoming advanced. About a year later, Richard was diagnosed with lymphoma, and also underwent chemotherapy.

They have now recovered from most of the unpleasant effects of the treatment, and are keen to raise money for charities, Prostate Cancer UK, the Ricky Grant Unit – Torbay Hospital’s chemotherapy unit, and Muscular Dystrophy UK.

The unsupported cycle-camping trip will be quite challenging, they are running a blog on Facebook, Bilbao2Roscoff, to keep their supporters in touch with progress.

Donations can be made online via Gofundme.com and searching for Bilbao2Roscoff.