A NELSON-based solicitor has taken on an uphill challenge to raise money for people with head injuries.

Geoff Dickinson, 47, a solicitor at Farnworth and Watsons in Carr Road, will take on a 150km ride including 18 hills, many of them cobbled, when he rides the route of the Tour of Flanders on April 3.

He will be part of a group riding the route the day before tens of thousands of fans converge to see the professionals cycle it in the second round of the Cycling World Cup.

Geoff, who always wears a cycle helmet when riding his bike, has said he will be thinking of teenager James Hadfield, who died after falling off his bike in a Burnley skatepark two weeks ago while not wearing a helmet.

Geoff, who was born in Nelson but now lives in Feniscowles, Blackurn, has been a keen cyclist for 40 years and cycles home from work twice a week as part of his training.

He is hoping to complete the route in six and a half hours and raise more than £500 for Headway Burnley and Pendle, where he is honorary secretary.

Geoff said: "I have been training hard for this and travelling round to find cobbled hills to practise on. Some of the hills have gradients of up to 20 per cent, so it is going to be unlike anything I have ever experienced before.

"I am hoping to raise as much money as possible, because through my work as a solicitor and my work with Headway I have seen the devastation that head injuries can cause.

"I raised £470 last year when I took part in a cycling event in Holland and I am hoping to beat that this year.

"I will be thinking of James Hadfield and I have worn a cycle helmet for the last 10 years, though I don't believe they should be compulsory."

For more information about Headway Burnley and Pendle, call 01282 708161 or 01282 425939.