WHETHER it's by train, plane, car or ferry there are lots of ways to travel from London to Paris.But Mark Fairweather and Stephen Salter are shunning the more conventional methods and putting their faith in pedal power.

Craig Robinson

WHETHER it's by train, plane, car or ferry there are lots of ways to travel from London to Paris.

But Mark Fairweather and Stephen Salter are shunning the more conventional methods and putting their faith in pedal power.

The two Aldeburgh men will today start a gruelling 300-mile cycle ride between the two capitals in aid of charity.

The pair have been training hard for the four-day fundraiser and have already clocked up a few hundred miles with some overnight cycles between their home town and London.

Mr Fairweather, a 54-year-old solicitor, is riding in support of Medecin sans Frontieres, which provides medical help in dangerous parts of the world.

He said: “What makes this charity different is their willingness to speak out on behalf of vulnerable peoples - in fact their motto is 'silence kills.' They do wonderful work and their whole philosophy appeals to me.

“Both Stephen and I are looking forward to the challenge. I'm confident we'll finish but I'll be pleased when we've done it. I just hope that we get some dry weather - we did a training ride about three weeks ago from Aldeburgh, to Southwold and then to Framlingham and it absolutely poured down. I thought I was going to have pneumonia and hypothermia!”

Mr Salter, 49, a pet food nutritionist, is raising money for local charity, East Suffolk Mind (ESM).

“I heard through a close friend of mine about their work and in particular about the case of a 16-year-old who was affected by mental ill health and tragically took his own life two years later,” he said. “His family are great supporters of the charity and through them I now know more about what they do and in particular the practical support they provide so that people suffering from mental illness can continue to live in the community.

“There is too much stigma, fear and misunderstanding. ESM is working hard to reduce these additional burdens on those who are already unwell.”

Both men are paying their own travel costs so that every penny donated will go straight to their chosen charities.

To sponsor Mr Fairweather visit www.justgiving.com/aldeburghcyclists or to sponsor Mr Salter visit www.justgiving.com/stephensalter .