MOST people approaching their 70th birthday would be content with slowing down.

But for one keen cyclist from Tynedale, it’s an excuse to get on his bike to raise money for a charity close to his heart.

Bob Eldridge MBE, chairman of trustees at the Newcastle-based People’s Kitchen, is preparing to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats next month to raise much-needed funds for the charity.

His efforts will see him leave his Corbridge home to cycle the entire length of mainland Britain, covering 1,000 miles and passing through three countries in just 14 days.

After being named in the Queen’s birthday honours list last June for his 30 years of dedicated service to the charity, Bob will be travelling north from Land’s End in order to take advantage of prevailing winds, following the Cornish coast and the wilds of Dartmoor before crossing the River Severn into Hereford.

Heading further north, he’ll pass through the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria and then cross the border into Scotland.

His route will then take him along the shoreline of Loch Ness, passing Inverness, and on to John O’Groats.

Founded in 1985, The People’s Kitchen has served, on average, 40,000 hot meals per year to the city’s homeless and disadvantaged population and demand for its services has increased by 30 per cent in the last five years.

Bob has set himself an ambitious fund-raising target of £10,000, which will go towards food, clothing, sleeping bags, shower facilities and programmes to help vulnerable people work towards independent living and combat loneliness and isolation.

“We’ve more than 200 people donating their time for free and we get no government grants,” he explained.

“The People’s Kitchen relies solely on charitable donations, so helping me to achieve my target will go a long way towards making a real difference.”

One of the charity’s patrons is Hairy Biker Si King, who has wished Bob the best of luck on his epic bike ride.

“Good luck Bob, you can do it. I’ll be thinking of you,” he said.

Bob’s charity challenge starts on May 13. Donations can be made online at www.justgiving.com/Bob-Eldridge