ROYAL Wootton Bassett Academy staff will get on their bikes tomorrow and cycle to London to fund an African children's home.

Sixteen members of staff from the Lime Kiln school plan to pedal around 100 miles in aid of Stand By Me, the charity they have supported for the past three years.

The funds will go towards a pledge to raise £28,000 to build a children's home in Dembi Dolo, Ethiopia.

The mixed ability group, which has set themselves a group target of £2,500 for the challenge, hope to arrive at the Ethiopian Embassy by 5pm on Saturday afternoon, where they will be greeted by three representatives from the charity.

Geography teacher and the school's international co-ordinator, Emma Stevens, planned the event after visiting Dembi Dolo in April.

She said: "It's been a bit of a logistical nightmare but we're all looking forward to it and hope it will go well.

"We will be embarking on our challenge which will take us through the Wiltshire, Berkshire and Surrey countryside before hitting the busy streets of London and arriving at our destination in Knightsbridge.

"The embassy is right next to the Albert Hall, and they are doing Last Night of the Proms on Saturday night, which I didn't realise when we planned this."

The team have spent the summer training for the challenge and despite suffering injuries and falls, are confident for a successful journey.

"We've got people of all abilities from people who have never cycled before and who've had to buy new bikes and get training to triathletes," said Emma.

"We all have the same goal—to arrive in one piece and to raise as much as we can.

"We'll be having a staggered start from Royal Wootton Bassett depending on ability, with the first group leaving at 6.30am."

Keeping morale up along the way will be a comprehensive support team, and volunteers who will greet the groups at every checkpoint.

"We've got a good support team," said Emma.

"Four of the teachers are giving up their Saturday to support us and we're having a minibus come to take us back and we've hired a van so we've got a way to get home.

"G4S have donated food and drinks and Go Outdoors have also given us some energy gels and energy food.

"We'll also hae volunteers to greet us at every checkpoint."

To show your support for the group sponsor them online at www.standby.me/projects/rwba-to-london-staff-cycle-ride.