A FORMER Droitwich Spa resident is set to take on a gruelling 500 mile cycle challenge to help sick children.

Bruce Thomas, who attended Chawson First School, Witton Middle School and Droitwich Spa High School when younger, will join work colleagues as they attempt to pedal their way from England to Germany.

Mr Thomas, who now lives in Surrey and works for pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim Ltd, also played for Droitwich Rugby Club and still has family in the town.

He will now join a team of 18 determined cyclists to cover a distance of 500 miles in just five days from May 23. The journey will take the group from the company’s UK head office, across France, through Belgium and then to the corporate headquarters in Ingelheim, Germany.

Participants aim to raise £36,000 for the firm’s charity of the year Bliss, which works tirelessly to ensure that the 80,000 premature or sick babies born every year in the UK get the best possible care and support.

Mr Thomas, who also helped organise the challenge, said: “For most of us, this is without doubt one of the biggest challenges of our lives, but it’s for a great cause and Bliss’ work makes such a difference to so many people’s lives that it will keep us peddling no matter how hard it gets.

“It’s the generous support of our friends, colleagues and the local community that is really going to make a lasting impact for the premature or sick babies and their families.”

Anyone who would like to support the challenge can donate at justgiving.com/Bruce-Thomas or text ‘BCYC69 £10’ (or any other amount) to 70070.