THE TOUR de France’s most testing routes are no mean feat. But cyclist Paul Attiwell will tackle them head on and bid to raise £2,000 for a children’s charity at the same time.

The 45-year-old from Gorse Hill will join hundreds next month on the Tour de Force, which will take on some of the toughest stages from the 2014 Tour De France, including all the alpine stages and climbing some of the most famous mountains in the French Alps.

Paul said: “Initially I wanted to do it for myself, it was a challenge I set myself last year since I’m a keen cyclist. Then I found out about this and it was more about trying to raise some money for charity while I did it.

“It will take place in 21 stages and I’ll be travelling 113 miles one day and 120 miles on others, all across the Alps and the Pyrenees.”

Since Paul decided to go for the event, he has been working hard to get his fitness levels up.

He said: “Training hasn’t stopped. I’ve been cycling in the evenings and I was in the gym over the winter months but with the better weather I am out four or five days a week.”

Paul has already raised more than half of his target of £2,000 but is hoping for an extra push ahead of the start of the event.

He said: “I’m hoping to raise as much as I can of £2,000.

“I am raising money on behalf of the William Wates Memorial Trust who provide grants to UK charities that in turn support disadvantaged young people in the UK to keep them away from a life of violence and crime and help them to fulfil their true potential and achieve their own goals.”