WHEN Ron Seddon set out to raise £2,000 on a charity bike ride, he didn't expect to have an armed guard.

But that's exactly who he will be travelling with when he sets out on his 500km bike ride along the River Nile.

Ron, of Whittle-Le-Woods in Chorley, is planning to raise £2,000 for mental health charity MENCAP before he sets off for the land of the Pharaoh's to face the elements in the charities annual 500km cycle ride along the River Nile.

Ron, 47, worked at a local BAE plant for 22 years, and now commutes to work as an engineer in Leeds. He will be joined in the challenge by colleague Sue Hatfield, from York.

In February next year Ron will be heading off from the giant Aswan Damn on the Nile, and cycling in a figure of eight -- criss-crossing the river -- finishing back where he started.

To enter the challenge Ron must pay £250 himself, and then raise the rest of the money through sponsorship. And he is already preparing for the event.

Ron said: "We are currently training, and at the moment I spend two hours in the gym each morning, and then at weekends. I'm trying to build up to doing 70 miles per day. "As part of our training we are also running a half marathon in the Great North Run, and my wife is helping too. She suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, and we have got her a power trike -- it's like a wheelchair with a motor. She can do around 15 to 20 miles an hour on a flat surface, and is joining in the fitness routine."

As well as facing a tough physical challenge when he sets off, Ron will also be up against the other dangers as he cycles through Egypt. Recent attacks on tourists has made many people wary about travelling to Egypt, and as Ron cycles along the Nile he will be joined by the armed escort.

Ron said: "It is certainly a worry. I will be watching out closer to the time, and I will obviously be taking Home Office advice. Before I go I will be making phone calls to check everything's okay."

"Not everyone who enters the ride actually finishes, only about 30 per cent of people make it.

"Quite a few get physically hurt or pushed off their bikes by kids. This year around 120 people are entrering, so we want to be one of those that do finish!"