It's a family affair as trio prepare for marathon ride

Barry (59), Andrew (30) and Stephen Pickthall (25) are part of a 19-strong team from Yapton Free Church taking on the Six Villages Nepal Orphanage Cycle Challenge along the South Downs Way for Nepalese orphans.

The team aim to complete the mammoth 106-mile ride from Winchester to Eastbourne in three days, raising 50,000 to build the new home for children living in the Christian-based Nepal Orphanage.

Barry, of The Street, Walberton, said: "The orphanage in Nepal has a special meaning for us.

"We have been working to support this Christian-based orphanage in Nepal for the past four years when Yapton Free Church's Pastor Hugo Van Driel travelled there and reported back on the situation. At that time Pastor Barat and his family were housing 12 young orphans in their own rented home without any support.

"The orphanage now houses more than 30 children and there is an urgent need to build a new home and community centre for them. We have already raised 6,000 to purchase the land. Our goal now is to raise a further 50,000 to erect the buildings."

Barry, Andrew, who has Down's Syndrome, and Stephen have been training for the challenge since February, going to the gym each Friday, and riding on Saturdays.

And last month Andrew, of The Precinct, West Meads, completed the 35-mile Downs Link route from Guildford to Shoreham-by-Sea, finishing first.

The team leave tomorrow and hope to reach Eastbourne in time for a well-earned lunch on Sunday.

The three are already half way towards their individual 1,000 goals but are appealing to Observer readers to help them reach the goals.

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