English is now almost more than a week into a six-week cycle ride from his Hertfordshire home to Brindisi at the foot of Italy. 

He explained: “Some years ago I decided I finally had to do the “big thing” I’d always wanted to do – and do it before I am too old. I can’t run because of four knee operations and five different torn knee ligaments, I can’t swim again because of the knees – so it had to be a bike ride.” 

Having never cycled more than 60 miles in a week, English is taking the scenic route and going over the Alps on his bicycle, dubbed Benson – his “trusty gentleman’s companion” – and sleeping mostly in a tent as he looks to average 50 miles a day with the odd rest day. 

He hopes to compete his epic journey by the end of the first week of October and is also planning sight-seeing en-route from England through France, Switzerland and Italy. 

He said: “I’m not picking a hard and fast route and certainly don’t want to be tied down to stopping somewhere just because I had planned to – or likewise grinding on in the wind and rain. This is meant to be challenge but not a torture!” 

English set an initial fundraising target of £10,000 and less than two weeks into the trip more than £7,300 has been donated by generous sponsors. 

To sponsor him, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/Simon-English6/ and follow his epic journey through his daily updates at http://www.englishfamily.me.uk/