A FORMER Stourbridge man is getting set to try again to complete a gruelling charity cycling challenge after his first attempt was aborted due to an accident.

Richard Stafford, known as Waggy after his footballing hero Dave Wagstaffe, had been aiming to cycle nearly 1,000 miles from Land's End to John O'Groats to raise cash for Mary Stevens Hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

But just two days into the epic cycle adventure with his pal Lou O’Connor, from Congleton, but the pair were forced to abandon the challenge after a crash left Lou with a broken collarbone and punctured lung.

The dynamic duo had completed 88 miles out of a planned 110 on day two when the collision happened just outside Bridgewater – destroying both bikes in the process.

Richard, aged 52, said: “The road had been narrowed for a wider footpath and cycle lane, which was on the pavement. We were going down the road, and I was in front and you could feel the cars really close, so I decided to go onto the pavement.

“What I did not see was the lip of the pavement sticking up by about 1.5inches, and as I went up onto the cycle lane my back wheel went from under me.

“We were doing 20mph and my Lou, was right behind me. I went down sliding along the pavement, and Lou hit my bike, cracking the frame and doing a 360 spin.

“He landed on his head, collar bone and basically broke his collarbone and punctured a lung.”

Charity events scheduled to take place en-route at The Old Waggon and Horses, at Ismere, and Stourbridge Lawn Tennis and Squash Club, however, still went ahead and raised more than £4,500.

That amount coupled with donations, pledges and sponsorship means the pair have raised £15,600 for their chosen causes – leaving them determined to get back on their bikes and finish what they started.

The gutsy pair are now ready to revise the charity challenge and are getting set to get underway at 6am on Monday September 19 when they will start out again from Land’s End.

Richard, a self-employed sports clothing manufacturer who grew up in Stourbridge but now lives in Congleton, Cheshire, said: "We just want to get it done. I can’t wait any longer.

“We are looking to do as much in a day as possible and hopefully day three will be in my own bed in Congleton.

"It's been a difficult 12 weeks trying to get ourselves back but we've had amazing support from everybody - and over the last two weeks we've done about 500 miles; we've really tried to build our fitness up and we're all ready for it - as much as we can be.

"We're trying to do it in eight days instead of nine this time. Last time we were trying to do 100 miles a day; we'll be trying to do 125 miles a day this time - and we're not booking hotels this time, we're camping."

He will be riding in memory of his mum Jeannette who lost her battle with cancer at Mary Stevens Hospice three years ago and his life-long friend Ivan Partridge, from Quarry Bank, who died at Mary Stevens Hospice in April after raising almost £6,000 for the charity where he ended up spending his final days.

The ride will also be for another of Richard’s best friends – Rob Owen, from Churchill, who is battling Motor Neurone Disease.

Money raised will be split between both the hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

Anyone wishing to support Richard can make a donation for the hospice online at www.justgiving.com/Richard-Stafford2 or for the Motor Neurone Disease Association at www.justgiving.com/Richard-Stafford3