AN adventurous granny who is “up for a challenge” aims to celebrate her 80th birthday by cycling 340 miles, through Vietnam and she is appealing for the loan of a second bike to help her train.

Former nurse Jean Fitzpatrick from Tutshill said: “I haven’t ridden a bike for 50 years and my family think I’m a bit whacky, but you need challenges in life.

“I took up scuba diving in my 60s and became an instructor in Malta, so now I’ve decided to get on my bike for charity.”

The 79-year-old mother-of-three, who has three grandchildren, is paying her own way on the epic ride, and is £400 off her target of £2,000 to support girls’ education and women’s entrepreneurship in poorer countries like Vietnam.

“My husband Bob passed away after a long illness a year ago, so I thought I needed to challenge myself.

“I lived in Malaysia for three years, and travelled around the Far East and Australia, so I know how challenging the heat and humidity will be.

“I guess I’m excited and a little scared, but the doctor who cleared me for the ride said they can always scoop me up and put me in the back of the support wagon if it all becomes a bit much.

“I hadn’t ridden a bike for half a century until I bought one in November and started practising getting my balance by riding around my garden.

“Because I only have one bike, I have to carry it outside and then set it up again inside. If I could borrow a bike until the end of April, it would really help as I could leave it set up inside. It doesn’t matter about the condition as I’ll be using it inside.”

“I’m also hoping the army camp in Beachley will let me practise on their land, as there’s less traffic.”

The CARE Vietnam bike ride from April 18 to 30 will cover a giant loop through Vietnam, starting and finishing in Hanoi, including two days of 2,000ft ascents each covering nearly 100km.

But after becoming a donor for Care International, providing seed funding for village enterprises in the Third World, to give her a positive outlook after her husband died, Jean was then inspired to join its charity bike ride.

“It’s really inspiring to see the women we support with Care International’s LearnWithCare project, such as help with buying a paddy field, starting a lean-to shop and getting a sewing machine to make clothes.

To sponsor Jean, go to www.justgiving.com/

fundraising/jeanfitzpatrick If you have a bike you are willing to loan, email [email protected] or call Jean on 01291 645809.