A SIXTY-five-year-old West Devon businessman rode a gruelling 75-miles off-road from London to Brighton to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. Last month, Roger Charles, director of Yelverton-based British Beds Worldwide Limited, joined 3,000 others to ride from Roehampton to Brighton for the longest off-road charity bike ride in Europe. Last year Roger rode the Tour de Moor across Dartmoor for charity, and afterwards said he felt as though he had a few more miles left in his legs so looked around for a bigger challenge. He said: 'I found the BHF London to Brighton ride and signed up for it, little knowing that within a few months the BHF would become a significant factor in my life. 'Two people very dear to me were diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (AF), a very scary condition that, until you get used to it and have it monitored and treated, can really affect your lifestyle. With treatment you may be slowed down a tiny bit, but the drugs make an enormous difference and reduce significantly the anxiety the attacks can spark. When I spoke to friends I was amazed to discover how many people live with AF. Another amazing fact is that — according to the BHF — 500,000 heart attacks may have been described last year as heart "events" by the NHS. So many people touched by heart problems! So it made sense to give thanks for my general good health and challenge myself to fundraise for a charity that helps so many people.' After many months of training across Dartmoor, Roger was confident that crossing the North and South Downs would be 'relatively easy', but said it was a true challenge over a lot of mixed terrain with some gentle towpaths along the Thames and some technical forest trails as well. 'There was a particularly nasty sting in the tail with an almost unrideable climb out of Upper Beading over the South Downs but this was rewarded with a fantastic fast downhill for about two miles before the flat run along the prom at Hove to a great welcome. There I learned that one gentleman who completed the ride had suffered a heart attack in April this year. 'It was tough but I enjoyed every single minute of the eight hours and 45 minutes that it took me. I have raised more than £1,000 so far and rode with several donors' names on my back for company and with love and respect for their living relatives who have been helped by BHF research or in memoriam of those who have passed on. 'I am truly grateful to those who have given, including family, friends, suppliers and carriers for our business but more donations would be greatly appreciated. 'As for next year — who knows? As long as I'm healthy enough, I'd love to do another off-road challenge like this.' To support Roger visit http://www.justgiving.com/roger-charles1">www.justgiving.com/roger-charles1