SEEING elephants in captivity has inspired Fleur Layzell to get on her bike and complete a charity cycle ride of epic proportions.

The 37-year-old, of Roestock Lane, Colney Heath, is planning to pedal from Land’s End to John O’Groats in just nine days to raise money for Elephant Family which helps to save elephants from extinction.

While Fleur did not even own a bike when she decided to take on the challenge, in the last four months she has been training non-stop to prepare for the 960-mile feat.

She said: “When I went to buy the bike and told the staff what I was doing they kind of looked at me with raised eyebrows.

“I said it only takes four months to train for but they still looked a bit alarmed.”

Her rigorous exercise schedule involves cycling 100 miles four times per week, which she said she is finding more mentally rather than physically challenging.

The biking novice added: “It is really hard especially if you are not used to cycling that much but I am enjoying it.”

Away from the saddle, Fleur has been busy boosting her fundraising total. She has collected £200 from a sponsored pub crawl she went on dressed in an elephant costume, and thanks to generous donations from friends and family she has already reached her £1,800 target.

She now has just a couple of weeks before she sets off from Land’s End in Cornwall along with 100 other ambitious fundraisers.

Commenting on how she will mark reaching the finish line, she said: “I am most looking forward to meeting the people I am going to be cycling with and looking at the amazing scenery and lifting my bike above my head when we get to John O’Groats.”

To sponsor her visit www.justgiving.com/Fleur-Layzell