Heather Judge (47), her sister Jackie Soutar (50) and friend Rhonda Spence (40), who are both from Dundee, are taking part in the 270-mile challenge to raise funds for the charity Women for Women.

The trio are to set off for Cuba in November and will spend 10 days cycling in the women-only event.

Their fellow participants will include This Morning's Fern Britton, who has taken part in similar events in Egypt and India.

They'll encounter varied terrain during the challenge, so Heather has been out and about in north east Fife getting in as much training as she can.

Heather said: "Every day in Cuba will be different, and the route takes us over hills and mountains as well as along the coastline.

"I hadn't been on a bike for years, but since I got one for my birthday a couple of years ago I've caught the bug.

"I have already taken part in a couple of 26-mile Cyclethons in Dundee during which I raised money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

"We have each to raise £3000 in sponsorship for the Cuba trip, and so far we've raised a total of just over £5000 through car boot sales and other events. If we could reach £10,000 that would be fantastic, as Women for Women is a very worthy cause."

The charity, headed by Sir Robert Winston, funds research into conditions affecting women and their babies, including cancer, premature birth, brain injury, miscarriage and infertility.

For more information, or to sponsor Heather, visit www.heatherandjackiecyclecuba.co.uk