MOTORCYCLE fan Rob Matthews is completely paralysed down one side ... but that won't stop him taking on a 3,500 mile Sahara trip to raise cash for the Barnardo's children's charity.

Rob, 45, from Ruardean Woodside, gunned up his trusty Harley Davidson on Friday and with pal Roy Davies, also 45, on a Honda Firefly, should by now be through France and Spain and boarding a ferry to cross from Algeceiras to Morocco.

"I am really looking forward to it," he told us before he left. "I saw your story on Karl Lumsden who is also heading for the Sahara and thought I would like to help people in the same way.

"Just by approaching local firms I have already had £300 promised and hopefully more will come in as the news gets around – we are looking after all our own expenses, so everything raised goes to Barnardo's."

Rob was badly injured in a motorcycle accident when he was 21. "I never let my disability stop me doing anything in life and that includes something like this," he said.

He has his disabled arm strapped up and has had to have the throttle adapted, but apart from this does not see himself any different from any other rider.

"People have asked me if my wife Katherine minds me going but she's used to me doing adventurous things. Not so long ago I learned to fly, so she knows I like a challenge," said the father of three.

"I'll miss her and the children while I'm away but hopefully I'll have a few tales to tell when I get back."

Anyone who wants to sponsor Rob should contact his family on 01594 543235 or Ben Hardy on 07990 898198.