SWINDON’S very own super-cyclist is planning an epic 3,000 mile bike ride across four countries in the hope of raising £10,000 for local charities.

Ricardo DeFazio, 31, of West Swindon, is tackling the mammoth challenge with four other people this September.

The team plans to reach Calabria, southern Italy, in just 20 days.

Fitness Instructor Ricardo said: “This will be the biggest challenge yet. My training has been really intense and at this moment in time I am probably the fittest I have ever been. It’s certainly going to be tough though.”

The 5-man team will drive to Paris on September 1 and cycle all the way through Spain to visit Ricardo’s friends in Vila Nova De Milfontes, Portugal, where they will stay for three days before getting back in the saddle.

From there they will head back into Spain and catch a ferry across the Mediterranean to Sicily, before completing the 200 mile journey to Calabria.

A keen fitness enthusiast, Ricardo firmly believes life is meant to be lived. “Sometimes we can get lost in our busy lives,” he said. “There’s no point planning for a future if you’re not going to be there when it comes. The secret is to enjoy life while you can.”

Ricardo’s family on his father’s side live in Calabria and they plan to cook a huge meal to welcome their weary guests.

The money raised will be split between Prospect Hospice, Brighter Future and the Younite Outreach Project, with the currently just under £4,000 from reaching their £10,000 target.

One of the team members Peter Woolley, 48, of Freshbrook, said: “It’s going to be very hard work. I’m knocking on for 50 now so I need to prove to myself that I can do something like this. I did a 54 mile cycle last Sunday but I’m going to have to step up the training a bit before September.”

In March of this year Ricardo received the Pride of Swindon award from the mayor for his inspirational exercise classes and his commitment to helping the local community.

He teaches various fitness classes at local gyms and has worked closely with Prospect Hospice in the past by raise funds and doing odd jobs when needed.

The daunting challenge comes after a 950 mile cycle to Barcelona in April, which took Ricardo and his team just 8 days.

“We smashed it in 8 days last time, so we’re confident we’ll make it to Calabria in 20 days,” said Ricardo.

Mike Kennedy, Prospect Hospice Community and Events Fundraiser, said: “Ricardo along with five other supporters have done a fantastic job with fundraising for us and we are very appreciative that they have chosen Prospect Hospice as one of the charities to support through his epic challenge. It’s a great example of the kind of once-in-a-lifetime experiences people have from doing a fundraising challenge like this.

People are encouraged to log on to www.crowdfunding.justgiving.com to support Ricardo in his epic journey.