A JOB centre worker is planning to cycle round the world.

James Hirst, who works as a personal advisor in Darlington, is planning a 25,000-mileplus ride, which could take him three years.

The 24-year-old will leave his home, in Carrville, Durham City, on Tuesday, August 30, to cycle through England, across Europe, through Turkey and Iran, and on to China taking in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.

He will then travel through Laos into Thailand, from Malaysia to Australia, through South and North America and back to England via Barcelona.

He hopes his solo adventure, which he has dubbed The Ride Round, will raise £20,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Mr Hirst said: “I studied geography at the University of Sheffield, travelling in Ghana and South-East Asia during holidays and after graduating.

“After putting my wander- By Mark Tallentire mark.tallentire@nne.co.uk lust to bed for a while, I started a career in the civil service.

“I quickly realised that I still had unfinished business in seeing the world – something that an annual twoweek holiday would never satisfy.

“I thought it would be nice to do a long cycle journey.

Within a couple of weeks, that had become round the world and I decided if I did not do it now, I would probably never do it.

“It is all a bit of an adventure.”

Mr Hirst recently spent two weeks cycling in the Scottish Highlands. He said: “I am trying to get out on my bike as much as possible with the weight I will have to carry.

“It is something I have been planning a long time. As it gets closer, the reality is starting to hit home.

“I am nervous but I am really excited. I cannot wait to set off.”

Mr Hirst is backing Macmillan Cancer Support because his mother, Jill McConachie, is a nurse.

His trip is self-funded, with all sponsorship going to the charity. He has already raised nearly £1,300.

Mr Hirst is inviting sponsors to request a postcard from a location on his route.

He will also be writing an online journal during the trip.

To sponsor him, visit the rideround.com