SEVEN Swindon College staff will be waking up in France this morning with their bicycles, the road to Paris in front of them and more than £5,000 in donations to earn.

Yesterday morning, Deborah Pope, Gerald Kane, Keith Leonard, Jacqueline Brooks, Dean Barrett, Steve Woodward and Adam Lincoln all set out from North Star Avenue.

They are riding 250 miles from the college to the French capital, with the aim of arriving at the Eiffel Tower for 3pm tomorrow.

They travelled south to Portsmouth last night where they took the overnight ferry across the Channel, with Wiltshire Air Ambulance and Prospect Hospice in their minds.

The septet have varying experience of road cycling, but plan to stick together throughout in an effort to overcome those low, tired moments and the dangers of France’s roads.

“It’s important to do that because when we get to France we are going to be on the other side of the road of course, and there is always going to be a time when one of us will feel tired and we need each other,” said Deborah, 45, of Northern Road, Ferndale.

Gerald enlisted the help of Deborah and others around 12 months ago, when he came up with the fundraising idea which will demand around 80 miles per day at a speed of 15mph.

They will stay in motels each night, trying to rest and recover ahead of the next gruelling stage, which they will ride in red and black uniforms to represent the college.

Speaking ahead of their grand departure yesterday, Deborah, a lecturer in English for Speakers of Other Languages, said: “I’m really nervous now. Once we get going on the road and after a couple of hours we will be fine.

“It’s a completely different trip to anything else I have done before and something we will be very proud to say we have done.”

The group will be supported by Kennedy Lillis and Lesley Vicat in a minibus, which will stay ahead of the group during the challenge, carrying equipment and refreshments.

The minibus will also bring them all home – all being well – on Friday morning after they have spent a well-earned night’s break in the capital.

Fundraising has been ongoing for much of the past year and already £5,000 has been collected, but more is needed if they are to achieve Gerald’s aim of funding one day’s travel for the air ambulance, which is costed at £6,000.

To keep track of their progress, visit Swindon College’s website, or to donate, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/SCtoparis