A CHARITY bike ride to raise awareness and money for mental health issues will pass through Okehampton over the Jubilee weekend.

Ashley Toft and seven other cyclists will leave Land's End on May 31, cycling 1,050 miles to John O'Groats in an effort to raise £150,000 for Explore Bipolar.

The team will tackle some of the UK's highest and lowest points during their 'Highs and Lows Challenge' to correspond with the highs and lows experienced by those suffering with bipolar disorder.

Toft will be riding the 19-day journey in memory of his brother Duncan, who took his own life in 2009 as a result of suffering with bipolar disorder.

The mammoth journey is planned to pass through Okehampton on Saturday June 2, and arrive in John O'Groats on June 18.

Mr Toft said: 'I want to make sure that my brother didn't die in vain and that's why I set up Explore Bipolar.

'I'm always up for a challenge, so by undertaking the Land's End to John O'Groats route almost exclusively off-road, we aim to up the ante and really work for our donations — very few people have cycled end-to-end this way.

'I want to ensure that other people in my brother's situation are given the best chances of managing their illness, and raising £150,000 means this will be possible.

'If we hit our target, we will be helping launch a ground breaking new project, called Bipolar Link in England.'

The charity was set up by Mr Toft to raise awareness of mental health issues and break the stigmas often attached to them. It also aims to raise funds for Bipolar UK, the national charity dedicated to supporting individuals with the condition.

Suzanne Hudson, chief executive of Bipolar UK, said: 'It is fantastic to have the support of Explore Bipolar.

'The Highs and Lows challenge will not only raise vitally needed funds to enable us to do all we can to help people with bipolar cope with their condition and realise their full potential, it will also raise awareness of this still misunderstood illness.'

To hear more about the Highs and Lows team challenge visit http://www.explorebipolar.org">www.explorebipolar.org to see the team's blog, which will be updated throughout the challenge.