THE manager of Ilkley Town Ladies football is preparing to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats this summer in support of four different charities.

Dr Tony Gill, a lecturer in mental health at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, plans to take 12 days cycling the more than 1,000 mile journey from one end of the country to the other, cycling around 100 miles a day. He will take just one day off - to attend his son’s graduation in London.

He hopes to raise at least £500 for charities close to his heart - Manorlands Hospice, and Motor Neurone Disease, and also for a charity set up in memory of broadcaster, Dianne Oxberry, who died from cancer at the start of the year, and for the Bradley Lowery Foundation, which raises money for research into childhood cancers.

Dr Gill, manager of Ilkley Town Ladies football, and coach for 17 years, since the team formed as under 8s, says he chose MND as a charity following the death of a friend and mentor from the disease, and following the recent diagnosis with the illness of a running colleague.

He is also keen to support Manorlands because of the care provided to relatives of friends.

“As a runner, I have competed for Yorkshire, but my career was cut short due to knee injury, I now coach and have done the occasional ride for charity such as the Fred Whitton challenge in one day but this is like 10 of those back to back, a huge challenge for someone who isn’t a full time cyclist,” said Dr Gill.

His fundraising pages can be found at: justgiving.com/fundraising/Tony-Gill3 MND; Tony-Gill2 Manorlands; Tony-Gill4 Bradley.