A DYNAMIC duo will be cycling 500km through the heart of India in a joint charity challenge.

Alison Bell, 51, and Fiona Davies, 60, have signed up for India’s Golden Triangle Challenge, which will see them cycle from Delhi to Jaipur.

The two grandmothers have started training for their 10-day adventure which they will set off for in February next year.

During the cycle they will meet the children in Delhi who will benefit from their fundraising.

They will also ride through Rajasthan, known as Land of the Kings, tackle a great variety of terrains, visit the tigers at Ranthambore National Park, and see the Taj Mahal - one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

Alison, of Long Meadows, Dovercourt, said she and Fiona are nurses at Harwich Hospital who decided to do the challenge as a pair.

She said: “It’s an organised event and there will be up to 20 people going.

“We found the challenge online and this one appealed to us both.

“We will be in India for ten days and cycling for six days straight.

“It will definitely push us.”

Two of the days the pair will cycle about 113kms and the rest of the days will be either 80km cycles or 45km rides.

Alison added: “I have always wanted to do something like this and I have lost both of my parents to cancer and I wanted to do something that raises awareness for the disease.”

Fiona is doing it for spinal muscular atrophy, which is a genetic condition that makes the muscles weaker and causes problems with movement.

Fiona lost her niece Nelle from the disease when she was just a four months old.

She added: “We are both quite energetic and both prefer cycling to walking.

“I go to spinning classes three times a week and we are both very active.

“We have started training already as we have been out and about - just a couple of days ago we did a 60-mile cycle and found it fun.

“I do think it’s going to be a challenge but I am very excited.”

The pair have received sponsorship from Anglian Community Trust.

To sponsor the two Harwich nurses, people are urged t0 visit www.justgiving.com and search Alison Bell or Fiona Davies.