A SOLICITOR is gearing up for a cycling challenge in aid of a cancer charity that provided care for a colleague before he died.

Ailsa Wilkie, of Witton Gilbert, near Durham City, will be joining colleagues from the Newcastle-based law firm Sintons, which has named Macmillan cancer support as its chosen charity of the year.

Team Sintons already has more than 20 entrants in the Virgin Money Cyclone’s three Challenge rides.

Participants can choose between rides 33, 63 and 104 miles long. The event along Northumberland country lanes starts and finishes at Newcastle Falcons Rugby Club in Kingston Park, Newcastle, on Saturday, June 21.

Miss Wilkie, 30, said the firm was aiming to raise £15,000.

She said: “The money raised will go towards helping to fund that new Care Closer to Home pilot project.

“The fundraising is planned in recognition of the care Andrew Walker, a partner in Sintons, received before his sad death at the age of 54 last July.

“The scheme is expected to employ two part-time chemotherapy nurses and a part-time chemotherapy pharmacist.”

Miss Wilkie, who is a solicitor in the law firm’s employment department, said: “Cycling has always been a hobby.

“I have entered the 63-mile challenge, so am going to have to be taking it a bit more seriously.”

The firm’s Just Giving Page is uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/SintonsCycloneChallenge.