IT IS going to take an incredible amount of pedal power.

But a Hampshire man yesterday embarked on the trip of a lifetime by cycling across Australia in memory of his mother.

Mark Michel will cycle 186 miles a day (300km) in order to cover the 2,485 miles (3,998km) from Perth to Sydney in under two weeks.

Joined by his friend Mark Children, the pair hope to raise £1,500 for Cancer Research UK in memory of Lauren Michel, who died of ovarian cancer last July.

Mark Michel, 26, an accountant, said: “My mum passed away last year so since then I wanted to do challenges like this to raise money for cancer research.

“This challenge will include riding through the desert outback where we will cover a distance greater than the length of the UK without passing a single house. In some sections we will need to survive distances of up to 400km without new water supplies. This is not to mention the unfamiliar threat of snakes and spiders.”

Mark, from Winchester, also cycled from London to Paris in 24 hours last September with his 20-year-old brother Andrew to raise money for the charity.

The two Marks also cycled across America five years ago.

To sponsor them visit justgiving.com/cycleacrossaustralia.