A FIREMAN from York is preparing for an epic cycle journey across Europe in support of a national charity.

Craig Marsden, who works as a fireman with the Ministry of Defence at RAF Linton on Ouse, will set off from the air base on September 1, and cycle to RAF Akrotiri, in Cyprus, and hopes to raise £10,000 for the Royal British Legion.

Craig, who is 41, prepared for his trip by taking part in a day-long sponsored cycle at Barclays in Parliament Street last week.

He said: “I’m expecting to raise about £10,000, but with the double dip recession, you just don’t know. Hopefully some of the army bases in Cyprus will be generous when I get there, and if I pass any bases in Germany I’ll be calling there too.

“I cycled to Gibraltar from Halifax two years ago, travelling 80 or 90 miles per day over 33 days. I wouldn’t say I’m really an old hand at cycling across Europe, but you guage a measure of what you’re capable of.”

Craig has pledged to support himself throughout the trip, and hopes to complete the trek on a budget of about £1,500, so everything raised will go straight to the charity.

He said: “A lot of money is already coming in, Scarborough and York have been very good. I’ve got at least 20 or 30 collection tins in each town and collecting them back in I’ve already raised £1,300.”

To donate to Craig’s fund, visit justgiving.com/craigmarsden