TWO friends are gearing up to pedal 175 miles in aid of Guide Dogs, a charity close to their hearts.

Michelle Forrest, a keen cyclist from Kelty, and Guide Dogs volunteer Erin McNair, from Dunfermline, will be taking part in the cycle challenge Ride the North in August.

Erin began volunteering as a puppy walker three years ago and raises guide dog puppies for the first year of their life. She is also a My Guide volunteer, helping a local person with sight loss get out and about, and speaks about the work of Guide Dogs at groups and organisations.

Erin said: “I love puppy walking. It’s a challenge and no two days or pups are the same.

"It’s hard letting them go, but when you hear and see first-hand the difference they can make to someone’s life, it's incredible".

She added: “I saw the Ride the North challenge advertised and thought ‘why not?’

"It’s not a race, it’s an event, so even if it takes me longer than others to finish, I’ve completed my own personal challenge, but also raised money for Guide Dogs at the same time.

"I’m doing this event with my friend, Michelle. She too fully appreciates the difference these lovely dogs can make to someone’s life and has recently given my third puppy, Daly, his forever home after he didn't make it to training due to skin issues.

“Michelle is a keen cyclist but has never completed anything as challenging as Ride the North. Cycling 175 miles over two days will be a huge personal challenge for us both.”

Anne Rowse, Community Fundraiser for Guide Dogs, said: “We are so grateful for Michelle and Erin’s support.

"Guide Dogs relies on donations and, without people like them, we simply wouldn’t be able to carry out our life-changing work supporting people with sight loss.”

You can support Erin and Michelle’s challenge via this fundraising page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/guide-dogs-west-fife