ADVENTURER Dave Cox is taking on a solo bike ride across New Zealand to raise money for Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Prospect Hospice.

The 51-year-old decided to take on the six-week 1,500-mile challenge after a close friend was diagnosed and cared for at the hospice in Wroughton.

The ex-RAF engineer will be cycling solo, crossing the island from North to South, going from Auckland to Ivercargill on the most southerly tip.

The trip will all be fully funded so every single pound raised will go directly to the chosen charities, hoping to raise £3,000 to Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Prospect Hospice.

“I’ve been a casual mountain biker over the years, very casual, just doing local rides,” explained Dave.

“As winter is quite a quiet time for me at work, I wanted to go on an adventure that was going to be something I’d never done before and was going to be hard work, but also rewarding.

“One of my old friends who I taught to fly many years ago contracted cancer and I think he spent his last seven weeks in Prospect Hospice.

“They were just so professional and so caring, they made his final days so good. He had comfort, he died with dignity.

“They’re such a good charity, I contribute something to them every month anyway, but I thought one day I have to do something really good to raise some money for these guys. They’re just fantastic.

But the one charity wasn’t enough, because in his career an a paraglider instructor he has seen first-hand the life-saving job that the air ambulance does.

“I’m an instructor and being an outdoorsman as well I know they’ve helped out several of my friends in the past, horse riders, paragliders, and bikers, they provide an essential service.

“I think it’s criminal that they’re not government funded, and have to rely on charitable donations.

“So I thought why not, let’s try and raise some money for these guys as well who save lives across the county every year.”

Dave, who spent 21 years in the RAF as an aircraft engineer at RAF Lyneham, and now works as an instructor at Cloudbase Microlighting, Redlands Airfield, near Wanborough. is going on two or three rides a week with all his bike panniers fully packed to build up his strength and get used to the weight of carrying everything he needs for the six weeks.

“I’ve been going out in all weathers, deliberately looking for hills to try and make it more difficult,” he said. “I’m not trying to over do it, I’m just trying to get to the point where I can hit the ground running when I actually get to New Zealand.”

As an unsupported ride he will have to carry cooking equipment, sleeping mats, and tools in case he needs to make emergency repairs.

Dave sets off on November 8 and will get back in time for Christmas on December 23. To track his progress and donate to this page go to Dave’s fundraising page at mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/coxy