A NOVICE biker is riding more than 700 miles in just three days to raise thousands for charity.

Jo Heaven, 48, of Kingshill, left Swindon yesterday morning on the second day of her journey to raise money for the Lights for Learning Gambia project and Street Pastors.

The mother-of-two, who is still training to gain her full motorcycle licence, travelled from Swindon to Sheffield yesterday before embarking on the final part of her journey today to Hadrian’s Wall.

Jo started the second day at Abbey Rider’s premises at 8am and was waved off by Swindon’s deputy mayor Ray Ballman, as well as members of Swindon Street Pastors and Lights for Learning.

She has already raised £700 of the targeted £1,000 which will help towards the Lights for Learning Gambia project to install solar lighting in a village school.

Along the route, Jo, who is publicity officer for Swindon Street Pastors, has been meeting up with street pastors in other towns and cities to help raise money for them and awareness of their work.

She said: “It has been an absolutely amazing experience and it has gone really well.

“The support we’ve had from all the street pastors across the country has been great.

“Yesterday was a tough day – the weather was awful and I think we only had an hour of dry road.”

Jo passed her CBT motorbike test – the first stage to a full licence – in October and is training at Abbey Rider Training motorbike school at Blunsdon Stadium.

She set off from Land’s End on a Suzuki 125cc motorbike on Monday at 8.45am and hopes to reach Hadrian’s Wall by the end of today. She is being accompanied by Abbey Rider instructors Bill Ferrol, Jim Miller and Rob Fox.

Jo hopes to raise at least £1,000, on top of £800 she has already raised through other fundraisers. The money will help instal solar lights in Ndkiri Kunda Lower Basic School, Gambia in April.

For more information, visit Jo’s Facebook page 125cc Motorbike Challenge. To donate, email Heavenfamily@aol.com.