PERSONAL experience is driving a Malvern man as he bids to help children in one of the poorest countries in the world.

John Proudlock has organised the Himalaya 400 Challenge, which will see 14 cyclists tackle 400km in four days, starting at Kathmandu in Nepal.

Mr Proudlock, who now works for QinetiQ, was working as a teacher in Boudhanath, a few miles east of Kathmandu, in 2001 and saw first-hand the poverty crippling a large proportion of the population.

"Children are at the very bottom of the poverty stack," he said, "With no social security to look after or care for them, they are extremely vulnerable."

The Nepal Child Welfare Foundation, under the direction of Khem Thapa, a retired officer in the Queen's Gurka Signals, rescues abandoned children and provides them with a home and schooling.

After moving to Thailand, Mr Proudlock cycled from Bangkok to Singapore, a 1,300 mile journey over six weeks, and the idea of Himalaya 400 was born.

His determination was strengthened by a visit to the NCWF care home at Bhairahawa last autumn, where he met Mr Thapa.

Mr Proudlock will be among the 14 cyclists starting out on October 19 and a further five are also from Malvern - Steve Robson, Janine Morley, Pete Calvert, Anita Tye and Graham Dean.

The cyclists, who are funding themselves and collecting sponsorship for the charity, will head for the World Peace Pagoda at Lumbini.

More information is available on www.himalaya400.org; to sponsor the group visit www.justgiving.com /himalaya400 or ring 07747 803944 (evenings).