THE blazing African heat awaits a University of Teesside lecturer as he takes part in a 6,000km motorcycle challenge.

Julian Carter will be joining over 100 other riders to raise funds for Riders for Health, which supports rural health care in Africa and around the world.

The organisation uses motorcycles to deliver medicine and professional staff around central and sub Saharan Africa and Asia.

The 40-year-old, from Wakefield, is a Teesside graduate and has returned to the University to lecture in Civil Engineering and Disaster Management.

Although the event takes place in November, Julian needs to raise 4,000 now towards a Honda CTX00 bike for the ride and its operational support.