A COMPANY director has set off on a mammoth charity bike ride from Blackmore Vale to the shores of the Black Sea in Ukraine to mark his company’s 20th anniversary.

Leaving Chitterne at 11am on Thursday, June 16, Simon Barfoot, of Blackmore Ricotech, began his 30-day, 2,300 mile journey through 10 countries – on an old recycled mountain bike.

Mr Barfoot is raising money and awareness for Salisbury-based Hope and Homes for Children (HHC) and Nick Hole, a man from Sherborne who recently suffered a heart attack.

The keen cyclist said: “I wanted to do something that linked to Blackmore, had a recycling theme and also set me a genuine challenge.

“Blackheath, the Black Country, Blackpool and the Black Forest weren’t far enough away. I needed something tougher.

“I’m delighted that this opportunity will allow me to raise money for two causes I am passionate about. I’m hoping to be able to make a difference both here in the UK, and overseas as well.”

Mr Barfoot’s route will take him through France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Serbia, Romania and Moldova before arriving in the Ukraine in mid-July.

He has previously cycled from Land’s End to John o' Groats and back again but this will be his biggest ever challenge.

Since being founded in 1996, Blackmore Ricotech has dismantled, reused, erased and repurposed over 12,000 tonnes of equipment at its centres in Chitterne and Wells - the equivalent of nearly 70 jumbo jets.

His progress can be followed on his blog at www.blackmore2blacksea.com.