A group of friends are aiming to step their efforts up a gear for a bike ride in aid of a cause close to their hearts.

Duncan Olden, Scott Gosset, Roy Gurrin and brothers West and Rhys Parker will attempt the London to Brighton challenge on Sunday, June 15.

The five fanatic cyclists go on journeys together once or twice a week, sometimes for 80 miles, so the 54-mile charity trek should not pose too much of a challenge.

They are collecting sponsorship which will go to the British Heart Foundation. The cause has special significance to Mr Olden, 35, whose father was only 39 when he died from a heart attack.

West Parker’s father-in-law Ken Monch suffers from angina and was himself a keen cyclist before he had the condition.

He will be on the finish line on Brighton pier to cheer the team on.

Mr Olden and the Parker brothers completed the ride last year and West said he could not wait to do it all again.

He said: “There’s a hill at the end of it and it was a big achievement getting to the top.

“It’s fantastic as you look over the top and I thought ‘this time next year I want to come back and do it again’. It was a no-brainer. Even though it had been painful, we all looked at each other and said, ‘yeah we’ll do this again’.”

The 31-year-old, of The Broadway, Minster, will be also donating a prize from his business www.wktrophies.com in Sheerness High Street for the best individual effort on the day.

The team will be setting off at 7am from Clapham Common and are hoping to end their trip with a full English breakfast as they missed out last year due to all the restaurants being full.

Sponsorship forms are available at WK Shoe Repairs in Sheerness High Street or you can donate money by visiting www.justgiving.com/west-parker1.