A CYCLIST aims to finish a gruelling ride this weekend to help a charity which has supported the young son of his best friend.

World record-holding cyclist Ben Wood, of Cross Hills, near Keighley, will take on a Silsden cycling challenge on Brunthwaite Lane – repeatedly riding up and down this steep road to complete the same distance as the height of Mount Everest.

Mr Wood, who is part of the Ultra 6 Great Britain Challenge Team, will be raising money for the charity Candlelighters.

He said: “My best friend’s little boy, Rory Welsh, is currently being treated for leukaemia at Leeds General Infirmary.

“When I told his parents that I wanted to do something to raise awareness and funds, they immediately recommended that I do something in aid of Candlelighters, as they have been such a support to the family. As part of the Ultra 6 team I’m familiar with tough challenges, but this will be different to anything I have attempted in the past.

“The aim is for me to ‘Everest’ a local climb in Silsden, which is known locally as ‘Murder mile’ – Brunthwaite Lane – due to its reputation as a brutal one-mile long climb, with gradients of up to 20 per cent.

“Everesting, which means to climb the same height as Everest, 8,848 metres, is a common cycling challenge. But as far as I know, it has never been attempted on such a short section. It is often done on mountains or longer climbs.

“In this case, I will need to do approximately 60 ‘reps’, which is 60 miles of climbing and 60 miles of descending, in 24 hours.

“My Ultra 6 teammate Andy North – from Guiseley – is also going to run as many reps as he can to see how high up Everest he could run in 24 hours.”

Mr Wood, 37, will carry out the brutal cycle tomorrow, starting at about 4am.

“I estimate it will take between 16 and 18 hours to finish,” he said.

“I am hoping that lots of people will come to support me on the day, including a few local professional cyclists.

“I have set up a Just Giving page and have already raised over 80 per cent of my £2,000 target. I’m inviting people to get involved and to join me on the day to show their support for Rory by cycling, running or walking one rep of this infamous local climb.”

People can visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Everest-Murdermile-24hrs to back Mr Wood’s fundraising drive.