A CALLINGTON businesswoman who has recently been diagnosed as bipolar is riding the distance of London to Paris in 24 hours on an exercise bike at St Mellion International Resort to raise money for a support charity.

Tamara Dumbreck (pictured), 27, said the support of Bipolar UK was invaluable in her family and she wanted other sufferers to get the same help as she did.

She said:?'Without the donations the charity would not be able to support anyone.

'Bipolar UK was there for me and my family in my time of need and now myself and my husband want to raise money so that when the next person Googles bipolar, they too find this service rather than no support.

'There has already been the closure of the charity's frontline service, the call centre and so Bipolar UK really needs money.'

Tamara, an aromatherapist and reflexologist, who is the daughter of Callington town councillor Jeremy Gist, said after years of highs and lows and confusion from the age of 13, she was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, something she had heard of but didn't really understand what it was.

'Life has been a lot easier since I was diagnosed both for myself and the people around me. I think the biggest thing with bipolar is that no-one wants to talk about mental health. Thousands of people die because of it so raising awareness and talking about it is really important.'

Three hundred miles on an exercise bike will be Tamara's challenge on October 31. Her target of £500 has already been smashed and the amount currently stands at £1,050.

Her husband, Ben, will feed her while she cycles and give moral support, as he has done every Sunday in training.