AN animal loving cyclist is to visit rescue dogs ahead of a tough fundraising ride to the continent as raises thousands to help them find loving homes.

Toby Boram will visit the hound conference in Hindlip, near Worcester as part of training ride this Sunday (April 2) ahead of the main, fundraising ride.

The challenge will see him cycle from his home in Chester to Murcia in Spain in aid of Forever Hounds Trust, a charity dedicated to rescuing and finding loving homes for greyhounds and lurchers in the UK, and Galgos del Sol, a similar charity in Spain.

Almost 100 volunteers from around the country will gather for the conference, at Worcester Wildlife Trust’s Lower Smite Farm in Hindlip.

His training ride from Chester to Hindlip will see him cycle more than 100 miles over two days.

However, his mission to get to Murcia is fifteen times that distance, covering 1,500 miles and will take two weeks to complete.

Rachel Grocott, chief executive officer of Forever Hounds Trust, said: “We are delighted that Toby has chosen Forever Hounds Trust to benefit from his fundraising challenge and we look forward to welcoming him to the conference at the end of his training ride.

"We will be ready to cheer him on, and there will be one or two special dogs looking forward to meeting him too. We’ve ordered tea and cake – no doubt he will need it after cycling more than 100 miles to get to us.”

He aims to raise at least £5,000, which will be split between the two charities.

A fundraising page has been set up, and donations can be made at www.gofundme.com/tobyuk2spain.

Mr Boram's Facebook page for the challenge can be found at www.facebook.com/tobyuk2spain.

For more information on Forever Hounds Trust and the work they do to help greyhounds and lurchers, please visit www.foreverhoundstrust.org.