GUTSY fundraiser Richard Stafford is set to stop off in Stourbridge tomorrow (Saturday June 18) as he makes his way from Land’s End to John O’Groats in a bid to raise more than £10,000.

Richard, formerly from Stourbridge, has been battling the wind, rain and thunder storms since setting off in Cornwall on the gruelling 900-mile cycle ride yesterday (Thursday June 16) which will pull in the pounds for Mary Stevens Hospice and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

But undeterred – the 51-year-old self-employed sports clothing manufacturer who now lives in Congleton, Cheshire, is aiming to stop off in Stourbridge tomorrow where he’s staging a couple of charity events along the way.

At around 4pm he’s due to call in at The Old Waggon and Horses, on the A451 at Ismere near Stourbridge, where there will be a family fun afternoon with barbecue and facepainting; and at 7.30pm he will head to Stourbridge Lawn Tennis and Squash Club which is hosting a charity night with a raffle and silent auction, disco and music from popular party band The Starving Rascals.

A group of around ten to 15 riders are expected to join Richard and his cycling buddy Lou O’Connor, from Congleton, as they ride from Clevedon, Gloucestershire, to Worcester earlier in the day - and a band of around 17 motorcyclists will be joining them as they ride from The Mitre Oak pub on the A449 in Worcestershire to The Old Waggon and Horses.

The pair aim to complete the ride to John O'Groats in Scotland on June 24.

Money is being raised for the hospice in memory of Richard’s late pal Ivan Partridge, from Quarry Bank, and for the motor neurone disease charity to help his best friend Rob Owen, from Churchill, who has been diagnosed with the debilitating disease.

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