DEDICATED charity supporters could raise more than £63,000 in the next two years by cycling to every cathedral in England.

Grant Shipcott, 53, who works as a volunteer therapist for Hospiscare, will start the series of 63 journeys with a trip to Truro on Friday, August 20.

Mr Shipcott will be joined by fellow riders Penny Clapham, Tony Norman and John Warre when he leaves Exeter Cathedral for the Cornish capital at 9am.

Charity trustees will wave them on their way and it is hoped £1,000 will be raised on each of the journeys.

Mr Shipcott, who has offered massage therapy to terminally ill patients at the charity's day care centre at the Avenue, off Canal Hill, Tiverton, for one year, is likely to have covered thousands of miles, from as far and wide as Truro to Carlisle, on his fundraising campaign.

He is no cycling novice and has completed rides in excess of 500 miles on similar pursuits for Marie Curie Cancer Care in the past two years.

Mr Shipcott, who lives in Halberton, said: "The long-term plan is to visit all of the cathedrals by bike, but I'm doing this inaugural ride between Exeter and Truro, via Plymouth Cathedral. But we can only go as fast as the slowest rider and we will be cycling together on this journey for two days, but we will be on the road for eight hours a day."

As well as raising funds for the charity which supports patients and their families in Exeter, Mid and East Devon, the trio hope to make some friends and will ask some good samaritans for accommodation along the way.

Mr Shipcott, who has so far raised at least £2,000 for this journey alone, was a volunteer for Marie Curie Cancer Care before the reorganisation of the charity which led to the closure of the three-day-a-week day care service from March, 31, 2009.

Hospiscare reopened the centre the following June where Mr Shipcott was able to continue in his work.

He said: "Between me the other three riders, we have raised £2,000, just this month.

"I've got to work in between the rides so I'll be picking them off when I can. Marie Curie is historic for me now but I think the day care centre is something that is close to peoples' hearts and anybody who has been touched by cancer or other life threatening illness, will know how important it is to have this professional care."

Those who can accommodate Mr Shipcott and his team en route to Truro are asked to contact him on 01884 820623 or sponsor him at www.justgiving. com/Aspire2Aspire