A COUPLE have quit their jobs to cycle more than 30,000 miles to raise £10,000 for the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

The trip, from Reading to Reading Pennsylvania, which is likely to take them two years to complete, will take place in five stages.

Reading travel agent Tim Millikin, 29, and his partner Finola Hensman, a complaints manager, 31, are facing the gruelling task in order to raise money for the Royal Berks Charity and SOS Children’s Villages.

Mr Millikin admitted his love of Reading was a big reason behind doing the event. He said: “I love Reading, I’m from Reading, this makes a good book end.”

The couple will cycle from Reading to Baku, Azerbaijan, from where they will travel through South East Asia to Singapore. From Singapore they will take a boat to Darwin, Australia, from where they will cycle to Auckland, New Zealand, flying across the Tasman Sea.

The fourth stage of the journey consists of a bike ride from Santiago, Chile, to Costa Rica. The couple will then begin the final stage of their trip and cycle to Reading, Pennsylvania.

Mr Millikin said he and his partner have been training, but nothing compares to the task they are about to face. He said: Finola cycles to work every day, and I am quite an avid cyclist. We did a test run cycling 250 miles from Munich to Vienna with all our gear.”

The couple will have just £10 to spend between them each day as they trek across the globe. They will carry a tent and a stove on their backs, and plan to live off whatever local food they can get.

The pair were renting a flat in Reading town centre but have now cancelled their lease and moved in with Mr Millikin’s parents near Lakeside, Earley, to save up the rest of the funds.

As well as moving back in with his parents, Mr Millikin said both he and Finola had quit their jobs to do the trip.

The pair plan to leave Reading on Sunday, May 3, and want to raise £10,000 for charity. To sponsor them, visit http://www.reading2reading.com/charities.html