OCTOGENARIAN Mary Lambert is preparing for the ride of her life when she takes to the pillion of a powerful motorcycle to raise cash for charity.

Harley-Davidson riders the Geordie Hogs will collect Ms Lambert from her Newcastle home on Saturday to begin her sponsored ride in aid of St Oswald's Hospice.

Ms Lambert, 85, will ride up the coast road on a Harley-Davidson to St Mary's Lighthouse, at Whitley Bay, where a collection will take place.

This is not the first time Ms Lambert has taken part in a fundraising adventure in aid of St Oswald's. Her other sponsored conquests include an abseil down a rock face at Kielder Water and a ride in a hot air balloon over Northumberland.

During the past two years Ms Lambert has raised over £1,500 with her fundraising efforts and she hopes the latest stunt will take this amount to £2,000.

She said: "We didn't have these adventurous activities when I was younger so now I aim to enjoy them now - while I still can.

"I've only ever been on a Suzuki and a Honda motorbike and have dreamt of riding on a Harley so now I've got my leathers ready."

St Oswald's provides hospice care for adults and children in the North-East and makes no charge for its services, ensuring hospice care is available to everyone.