A SIDMOUTH College teacher is gearing up for a mini version of the Tour of Britain to raise funds for the Buturi Project. Rob Howells, 57, who won the Brompton World Championships in the Veterans category last year, will be embarking on a 222 mile bike ri

A SIDMOUTH College teacher is gearing up for a mini version of the Tour of Britain to raise funds for the Buturi Project.

Rob Howells, 57, who won the Brompton World Championships in the Veterans category last year, will be embarking on a 222 mile bike ride in the hope of raising �1,000 for the project regenerating a village in Northern Tanzania, led by The Village Collection owner, Judith Smith.

The part time English teacher will set off from Sidmouth College and cycle 111 miles up to Gloucester before turning around and coming all the way back.

He will leave on Saturday, June 13 at 4.30am for the demanding bike ride which he expects will take around 16 hours.

Rob, who is training hard at the Cranford Sports club in Exmouth under the supervision of ex-Sidmouth College student Mikey Nield, said: "I've told a few people who usually cycle for 100 miles and they said I must be crazy."

Enough money has already been raised for a water bore- which Judith will be helping to install when she visits the country in the next couple of weeks- but funds are still needed for other aspects of life in the region, including the building of a kindergarten for small children.

The funds raised by the epic journey will help towards this goal and Rob is hoping for support from students, parents and members of the public.

Judith said: "I think Rob is very brave. I feel very happy and humbled because my message is about education and that is the best gift - for Sidmouth College children and teachers to be part of it."

It is a busy time for Judith who, as well as visiting Tanzania in the next couple of weeks, is travelling to the Tanzanian embassy in London to meet the country's ambassador and introduce her to the project.

In the long-term, Judith hopes Sidmouth students will visit the village in a bid to experience first hand the different way of life.

She added: "Head teacher Jeremy Roberts, who is a trustee of the project, has been very supportive and he hopes to create a direct link between Buturi and the school."

If you would like to sponsor Rob ring Sidmouth College on (01395) 514823.

Alternatively visit www.buturi-project.co.uk/ or www.sidmouthcollege.devon.sch.uk/ to download a sponsor form.