A COUPLE will be heading on a summer holiday with a difference as they aim to raise money for a charity close to their hearts.

Jacob Everson and Rachel Jefferson, both aged 20, will be saddling up for a bike ride from John O Groats to Lands End to raise money for Cancer Research UK after losing loved ones to the disease.

Jacob, of Tomlinson Avenue, Orford, said: “I’m doing it in memory of my nana and granddad while Rachel is doing it in memory of her running coach Mike Hancock.

“My nana was always raising money, she had cancer and it’s been a year since she died so I thought she would be proud of our efforts.”

Rachel was trained by Mike, a coach with Warrington Athletics Club, and he helped her gain a spot representing England for running.

Mike died in December.

Rachel, of Bruce Avenue, Orford Green, added: “For the precious six years I shared with him, he never once moaned and wouldn’t want me to make a fuss so I am doing this bike ride in his memory.

“It will be a tough ride and I will have to work hard to complete it, mirroring his training sessions.”

The pair will tackle the 900-mile route over two weeks in June when they break up from their sports based studies at Liverpool John Moores University.

Jacob added: “Cycling is something new for us both. We both do a lot of sport anyway. There are quite a lot of hills in Cornwall and there are lots of sprints.”

The pair hope to hit a fundraising target of £500. l To donate to their cause visit justgiving.com/jakeandrach.