A CANON showed no fear in riding high for charity ahead of a 1,200-mile ride to Rome next week.

Canon Ed Condry is one of 27 cyclists who will follow the ancient pilgrimage route, Via Francigena (Frankish Way), from Canterbury to the Italian capital on August 10.

He took his bike up on the roof of the Cathedral's St Anselm's Chapel to promote the ride.

The cyclists will arrive in Rome on August 26 and 50 per cent of sponsorship money will go to the £50million Save Canterbury Cathedral Appeal.

They have already raised £80,000 towards a £100,000 sponsorship goal. The other half will go to a charity of the rider's choice.

Participants – aged between 16 and 65 – will cover 80 miles and burn about 5,000 calories each day.

Those taking part include a high court judge, city council chief executive Colin Carmichael, retailers, students, a teacher, a music professor and a medical consultant.

Canon Condry, residentiary canon at the Cathedral, said: "We are looking forward to the departure with a mixture of excitement and trepidation and it will be a major personal challenge for each of the cyclists taking part.

"This is a very special opportunity to travel an historic route and to raise money for a number of important charities."

To make a donation to the Save Canterbury Cathedral Appeal go to www.savecanterburycathedral.com or phone 01227 865346.