A father-son duo is cycling from Newcastle to Turkey – and they’re wearing toon strips for the entire journey.

Paul McDougal, 34, and dad Steve, 57 are two weeks into the 3,500-mile bike ride to Istanbul and will cross 11 countries on their way.

The pair, both keen cyclists, are completing the challenge for Movember, and will be wearing Newcastle United jerseys for the entire journey.

Paul, a travel writer from Newcastle who is having to work while doing the challenge, said: “I like cycling, my dad likes cycling. A few years ago I got the idea to do a big long distance. About two years ago my dad retired and I thought why not ask him if he fancied it.

“It has been an idea for a long time but we have done very little planning and we haven’t got the best equipment.”

“We keep getting very very lost because we are both a bit stupid,” he joked.

The Northern Echo: Paul and Steve on the banks of the River Rhine.Paul and Steve on the banks of the River Rhine. (Image: PAUL MCDOUGAL)

 “The big challenge so far has been the cold. I think it has snowed on three of the last days. My dad has had a flat tyre and a spoke on his back wheel broke.”

 “The big barrier will continue to be not physical fitness but the fact that sometimes I have just got to work.

“The cold and rain has been what’s made it uncomfortable.”

The pair set off from Steve’s house in Cramlington, Northumberland on April 8 for the ferry at North Shields, crossed the Netherlands and are currently in Germany. They plan to follow the Rhine then Danube crossing Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria before arriving in Turkey.

So far the McDougals have completed 1000km with their biggest stretch in one day being a 105km slog.

Steve and Paul say they’ve always been close and have similar mindsets and routines so don’t expect to argue on their trip.

“We are only two weeks in so that might change – we are both quite calm and positive.”

The Newcastle fans are wearing black and white strips for the duration of their journey, but season ticket holder Steve will miss the final games of the season.

They’re hoping to raise £5,000 for Movember after family members faced cancer battles in the last few years.

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“We weren’t sure which charity to choose at first. Movember covers things that we care about. The focus is on prostate and testicular cancer. Over the past couple of years, our families have had run-ins with cancer.

“Some of our family members died from it, some have had to go through all that it comes with.

“Mental health issues and suicide prevention are something we both care about. I’ve had my own struggles in the past so it seemed like a good charity that ticks a lot of boxes.”

Anyone wishing to donate can do so online.