CHIMNEY sweep, Patrick Sessions, is putting his aside his rods and brushes to cycle 1,200 miles to Belarus.

The Romsey man will be setting on his three-week ride on May 9 with Shaun Curd, of Gosport, in aid of a charity which helps children affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster.

Patrick, 53, who served with the TA Battalion of the Parachute Regiment, is used to long rides. In 1994, he rode to Arnhem to mark the 50th anniversary of Operation Market Garden and raised £13,000 for veterans. He also rode the length of France for Anglesea Lodge, a day centre run the Hampshire Autistic Society in Gosport.

Patrick and Shaun will be camping along the route, which will take them through France, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Poland, before reaching their destination, the Belarus border town of Brest. They will stick to minor roads and hope to avoid too many steep hills, aided by a satnav system donated by Garmin.

The expedition is also supported by UK Bie Store, Gosport, which has given them discount on new equipment. Patrick, however, will be trusting in his 22-year-old Rockhopper bike to get him to Belarus.

He won’t have to depend on it for the return journey, as the pair are flying back along with a party of youngsters who are travelling to the UK for a holiday with the charity Children’s Chernobyl Lifeline.

Patrick has a justgiving site. Phone 0771 9258754 for details.