A 22-YEAR-OLD man from Yelverton is to embark on a six month expedition with three friends during which they will attempt to cycle the length of South America — a distance of 8,000 miles — all for charities close to their hearts.

On New Year's Day Tom Lawson, a graduate from the University of Durham class of 2014, will set off with friends Guthrie Fenton, Archie Innes and Toby Mackean, will an aim of raising cash for four charities — Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Headley Court, The Mark Donegan Fellowship, Cancer Research and the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.

The exhibition 'Upping the Andes' route begins in Ushuaia, in the south of Argentina and winds upwards through Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Ecuador, finally coming to an end at La Guajira Peninsula in Colombia.

The young men are planning to average 50 miles a day, spending each night in tents, which they will carry in their packs.

Tom is raising money for Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre Headley Court, a facility near Leatherhead in Surrey. Guthrie, from Hampshire, has chosen to raise money for The Mark Donegan Fellowship; Archie, originally from Norfolk, has chosen Cancer Research; Toby, from Hampshire, is raising money for the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust.

Tom, a Hatfield College chemistry graduate, hopes to join the Royal Marines on his return from the adventure.

Tom, route planner and mechanical expert for the team, said: 'As we have trained in the rolling hills of southern England, we know that the rough terrain of Patagonia will present a huge challenge.

'However, the thought of raising money for our four charities, each personally important to one of us, is sure to keep us pedalling up the steepest roads of South America. We do not know what to truly expect until we arrive in Buenos Aires, but whatever is ahead is sure to be an adventure!'

The team is sponsored by Jackson-Stops and Staff Exeter Residential and Development Land and New Homes and Property Promotions.

For more information or to donate, visit http://www.uppingtheandes.com">www.uppingtheandes.com All money raised will go to the charity in question.