A FORMER Stourbridge man is gearing up for a gruelling 900-mile cycling challenge in memory of his best pal which will raise funds for two causes close to his heart.

Richard Stafford is planning to ride from Land's End to John O'Groats to pull in the pounds for Mary Stevens Hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

He is taking on the epic nine-day road trip in memory of life-long friend Ivan Partridge, who lost his battle with cancer at the hospice in April, to help give a boost to the Stourbridge charity which his late pal had spent the last few months of his life fundraising for.

Ivan, aged 55, from Quarry Bank, raised almost £6,000 for the Hagley Road hospice where he ended up spending his final days and Richard hopes to continue the good work and pull in extra cash to ensure his pal's memory lives on.

The 51-year-old, whose mum Jeannette lost her battle with cancer in the hospice three years ago, said: "The treatment they give to everybody there is amazing."

Diane Moore, lottery and promotional manager at the hospice, said: "When Richard initially planned his challenge Ivan was supposed to see him cross the finishing post, but the ride will now be in memory of the inspirational man.

"Just days before his passing and with his own fundraising attempts behind him, his focus was on Richard and he urged everybody to support and to sponsor his challenge so it would generate as much income as possible for the hospice."

Money raised from the bike ride will be split between the hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association as another of Richard's best friends - Rob Owen, from Churchill, is battling the debilitating, progressive condition.

Richard, known as Waggy after his childhood footballing hero Dave Wagstaffe, said: "I think we'll end up with £15,000 to £16,000 in total. We've already got £5,000 in donations for Mary Stevens Hospice - and we haven't even started yet - and £4,200 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association."

The self-employed sports clothing manufacturer, who grew up in Stourbridge but now lives in Congleton, Cheshire, will be setting off from Land's End, on the Cornish coast, on June 16 and he aims to complete the ride to John O'Groats in Scotland on June 24.

He'll be travelling with Congleton cyclist Lou O'Connor, aged 56, and half-way through the trip the pair will be stopping off in Stourbridge for a couple of charity events which should bring in a few more pounds.

On Saturday June 18 at around 4pm they'll be calling in at The Old Waggon and Horses, on the A451 at Ismere near Stourbridge, where there will be a family fun afternoon with barbecue and facepainting; and at 7.30pm the pair will head to Stourbridge Lawn Tennis and Squash Club which is hosting a charity night with a raffle and silent auction, disco and music from popular party band The Starving Rascals.

A group of around ten to 15 riders are expected to join the pair as they ride from Clevedon, Gloucestershire, to Worcester earlier in the day - and a band of around 17 motorcyclists will be joining them as they ride from The Mitre Oak pub on the A449 in Worcestershire to The Old Waggon and Horses.

The pair have been putting in plenty of training and estimate they have ridden around 800 miles this month in preparation for the trip - and Richard said: "We just want to get started now, we're really looking forward to it."

Anyone wishing to support Richard can do so online by making a donation for the hospice at www.justgiving.com/Richard-Stafford2 or for the Motor Neurone Disease Association at www.justgiving.com/Richard-Stafford3