ENTREPRENEURS Andrée and Andrew Buxton are going for gold — as they complete a gruelling 100-mile ride which follows the same route as the London 2012 Olympics cycling road race.

Novice Mrs Buxton only bought her first road bike this year — and until last month the furthest she had cycled was 36 miles.

She will be helped along the way by her husband who is an experienced cyclist — as they complete the Prudential Ride London-Surrey 100.

They will be part of a 190-strong team — captained by former rugby star and TV personality Matt Dawson — which hopes to raise £250,000 for Beating Bowel Cancer.

Mr and Mrs Buxton, who were both born in Smithills but now live in Samlesbury, outside Preston, have already raised £1,570 of their £1,500 target to date.

Mrs Buxton, a former Canon Slade pupil, signed up for the challenge despite having no experience of cycling.

The 59-year-old said: “Andrew is a keen cyclist but I am more comfortable on a horse than a bike.

“However, this is for such a great cause so I thought I would give it a go.

“Until I had signed up, the furthest I had gone on a bike was to the pub or local shop and back on my ‘girly’ bike.

“I have got my new proper sports bike now, and I think it is going to make all the difference.”

Mr and Mrs Buxton own a rental property business in Bolton and also own Flame Urban Star hair salon in Preston.

The couple are taking on the challenge in support of a friend who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in May 2012 aged 32.

She was given the all clear in April 2013 after six months of chemotherapy and three major operations which removed parts of her bowel and liver.

Mrs Buxton added: “Bowel cancer is a disease that affects an awful lot of people and since people have heard what we are doing, we have had great support.

“Two of our friends are keen cyclists and have taken us under their wing, acting as our own personal trainers.

“And clients at the salon have been incredibly generous with their donations.”

To sponsor Andrée and Andrew go to justgiving.com/andrew-andree-buxton and for more information on bowel cancer go to beatingbowelcancer.org or call 020 8973 0011.