Gina Rive will be cycling 450 km in China. Picture: David Ferguson (00967824)

A WOMAN is taking on a 450 km cycle ride in China to raise money for charity.

Gina Rive (49), of St Clement, has entered the Women for Women Cycle China challenge next year.

The event involves riding for five days through the countryside surrounding Beijing, along rivers and through deep gorges and small villages.

Gina, who is a credit controller at Itex, has a target of £3,300, and since she is paying for her flights and accommodation, everything she raises will go to charity.

The money will go towards funding research at the Wolfson and Weston Research Centre for Family Health in London.

At the centre, they aim to improve prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a range of devastating conditions which cause miscarriage, genetic diseases, infertility, cancer and brain damage.

Gina, who has two children, Richard (26) and Kayleigh (24), has just bought a bike to start training for the challenge.

‘I did miscarry before I had my children and I know a few people who have had problems with their pregnancies and complications,’ she said.

Gina is organising a variety of events in the summer to raise money, including a fashion show at East on 3 June, a coastal cruise on 27 June and an event at Reg’s Garden on 22 August.