WHILE most teachers' thoughts turn to relaxation in the summer holidays, two from All Saints Language College, in Rawtenstall, are embarking on something altogether more strenuous.

Husband and wife Jim and Sheelagh McKeon are cycling all the way from Belgium to the South of France to raise money for local hospices.

The ride stretches all the way from a Belgian port to a major city in the South of France and they are setting off on July 17.

The couple, who are both PE teachers, are being cagey about exact locations because they intend to hold a competition to get pupils at the school to judge the exact distance when they get back to raise more money.

Sheelagh said they decided to raise money for East Lancashire and Rossendale hospices because they cared for her mother, Mary Greenwood, who died of cancer just before Christmas.

She said: "She spent 18 months as a day case patient at Rossendale and four to five weeks at East Lancashire Hospice, so we decided to split the money between the two.

"Staff at both places were just fantastic and really helped us through a sad time, so we wanted to give something back."

The couple are planning to spend the whole six weeks completing the journey and combining it with a bit of a holiday.

They are paying all travelling costs themselves, so any money donated will go direct to the hospices.

Anyone who would like to sponsor their efforts can call the school on 01706 213693, East Lancashire Hospice on 01254 660900 or Rossendale Hospice on 01706 240081.