Hepworth Motor Group managing director Stephen Brighton is set to continue his eight-year commitment to the Pedal for Pounds bike ride with a 313-mile ride around northern Europe.

Brighton has saddled up to support the charity challenge annually since it was founded in 2011, to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance & HTAFC Keep It Up Campaign, and has helped the group raise a total of £1.95 million in that time.

This year the group of fund-raising riders will be taking on their biggest challenge to date in support of four charities based in and around Huddersfield – departing for a four day European bike tour on April 29.

Brighton said: “I’ve taken part in the Pedal for Pounds bike ride to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and HTAFC Keep It Up Campaign and to date, I’m proud to say that as a group we have raised £1.95 million pounds to keep two vital air ambulance helicopters in the air above Yorkshire.

“This year, following changes to the HTAFC Academy, the money raised will be split between four charities, local to Huddersfield.

“These are the Ruddi’s Retreat, which provides holidays for underprivileged children (www.ruddisretreat.org), Kirkwood Hospice, which provides support for patients with life-challenging illnesses (www.kirkwoodhospice.co.uk) and the Town Foundation which provides breakfast’s for underprivileged school children around the Kirklees area (www.htafcfoundation.com).”

Describing this year’s cycling challenge – the “Chairman’s Choice Route” – Brighton said that the group of riders will cycle 71 miles from Zeebrugge to Antwerp then 107 miles from Antwerp to Amsterdam before returning to Rotterdam over a 55 mile route.

Following an overnight ferry ride the last leg, of 55 miles, is from Hull to Huddersfield on Friday, May 3.

Brighton, whose wife Nicky is also taking part in the ride, said: “This will be the longest ride we have undertaken at 313 miles, including the longest ever day so although it may be flat it will still be very challenging.”

To show your support to Steve and his fellow fund-raising riders, visit https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/STEPHENBRIGHTON1 to sponsor their efforts.