A CHARITY champion is set to receive a hero’s welcome when he completes his epic, year-long bike journey from Australia to Bolton this weekend.

Superfit Jimmy Hailwood set off cycling from his former home down under at the start of the year on a 20,000 kilometres mission across the earth to his hometown of Horwich.

He is expecting to complete his seismic feat on Saturday and is inviting friends, family and those who have supported him all year to come out and celebrate with him.

Mr Hailwood, aged 29, has been raising money for Chorley children’s hospice Derian House throughout his quest and will arrive at the unit on Saturday at around midday.

He will then cycle through the streets of Horwich, travelling along Lee Lane and Winter Hey Lane between 2pm and 2.30pm before heading to the Macron Stadium — home of his beloved Bolton Wanderers — to do the half-time draw and a victory lap of the pitch.

He will then invite family and friends to join him at the pavilion at Horwich RMI Cricket Club for a small celebration on Saturday evening.

Speaking from Rotterdam in The Netherlands, where he is waiting to get a boat over to Hull, the endurance star said it will take a while to come to terms with what he has achieved.

He said: “It is tricky to summarise it all, but what I would say is that my faith in humanity has been truly restored.

“The mainstream media always tells us about dangerous and negative things, but in my experience the world is very safe and 99 per cent of people want to help you.”

Speaking about his return, he said: “I am looking forward to enjoying time with my girlfriend and enjoying the absolute luxury that life in the UK offers — I’d recommend everyone travel for a few weeks by bicycle to see how simple life can be.”

Mr Hailwood’s trip has seen him travel through some of the poorest countries in the world, with some of the most difficult terrain imaginable — but he has kept his Facebook followers regularly updated with interesting, amusing and positive accounts of his incredible adventures.

He now needs one last helping hand over the finish line and is asking any willing cyclists to join him for the last leg of the journey.

Those interested should aim to meet him at the Woodland Spa in Nelson, ready for a 9am cycle towards Derian House.

Those interested are urged to don a Father Christmas outfit, which Mr Hailwood has been clad in since the German leg of his trip.

If you would like to donate to the fundraising page, visit justgiving.com/backtobritainbybike or or text the code BBBB92 followed by any amount from £1-£10 to the number 70070.

The journey so far Indonesia, Burma, Bangladesh, Nepal, India,Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Hungary, Australia, Czech Republic, Germany and the Netherlands.