ROAD safety campaigner Graham Chappell will set off on a poignant 360-mile cycle ride later this month.

He will start at Tipps End where friends Andy and Lynn Walker live. Their nine-year-old daughter Charlotte drowned in a Fenland drain nearly three years ago and, following the tragedy, Mr Chappell launched the Fenland Road Safety Campaign (Charlotte’s Way).

Now family friend Mr Chappell is set to leave the Walkers’ Tipps End home near Welney and head to Land’s End to raise money for the safety campaign.

He leaves on Sunday October 24 and is scheduled to arrive in Land’s End on Saturday 30.

“Some people have asked how I will cope if the weather is bad at this time of year,” said Mr Chappell. “I know that the roads in Fenland won’t be getting any safer as the weather turns and winter approaches but I can’t be put off by a bit of autumn wind and rain.”

The campaign has so far raised �2,600 towards its ‘safety barriers appeal’ and Mr Chappell hopes sponsorship will take this to �4,000.

“That is exactly half the amount quoted by an independent safety barrier firm to install a vital section of safety barrier at the notoriously dangerous Bedlam Bridge turn from the Sixteen Foot Bank towards March,” he said.

Mr Chappell believes there have been several important milestones since the campaign launched including securing backing from MP Malcolm Moss and latterly from Steve Barclay, MP.

In January Mr Chappell has persuaded Roads Minister Mike Penning to see at first hand the roads problem Fenland.

Mr Penning will be met by Mr Barclay and Mr Chappell as well as Charlotte’s father to discuss the road safety campaign.

“We plan for Mr Penning to see at first hand some of the safety issues associated with our waterside roads,” said Mr Chappell.