PREPARATIONS are going full throttle for The Root fundraising bike ride in memory of the organiser of Beer s R & B Festival. As previously reported in the Herald Bert Stone and Mike Barry will be riding their bikes in an 800 mile journey to raise money

PREPARATIONS are going full throttle for 'The Root' fundraising bike ride in memory of the organiser of Beer's R & B Festival.

As previously reported in the Herald Bert Stone and Mike Barry will be riding their bikes in an 800 mile journey to raise money for a memorial bench in tribute to Jim Riley who died last September.

They are aiming to raise �800-a pound for every mile they travel.

Bert and Mike will be riding to the Isle of Man to do a lap of the TT course, to Macclesfield on the well known biker road, the Cat and Fiddle, and then down to Surrey to Box Hill before returning to Beer.

Bert, of Rose Cottage, said: "It is going amazing. Rex who did up my bike has done an amazing job and now we are just really looking forward to going for our ride.

"Mike Green and John Brewer of Beer Parish Council are working really hard to get the bench in place."

Plans are also being finalised for the fundraising gig at the Mariners Hall in time for the travelling pairs return on Saturday, April 18.

The Jellicle Cats, a 3-piece blues band with a remarkable young rhythm section- siblings Jess and Ollie Caute on drums and bass, will be performing their unique sounds.

Led by their father, Dan, on guitar and flute, the J-Cats have appeared at both the Sidmouth Jazz Festival and Beer Blues Festival 2008.

Bert added: "They are brilliant. When they played at the festival last year they captivated everybody's heart. All of the women in the audience fell in love with the children."

Tim Royce and the King Roosters, Rob Lee and Bert Stone, The Copoutz and Brock and the Badgers will also be playing.

In addition, Bert and his band, Steppin' Up, will be performing a tribute act to Jim's band, Steppin' Out.

Entry for the gig is free but donations are welcome.

A Memorial Bench Fund sponsorship website is in the process of being set up-

visit www.steppinout.info/ for more information.