A team of cyclists is preparing to ride from Sicily to Milan to raise money for a charity that raises awareness of sudden death in young people.

Amanda Paterson, of Kingsdown, Nick Branch, of Clifton, James Rankin, also of Kingsdown and Keith Mulhern, will be undertaking the challenge next month in support of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

The cause is close to Amanda's heart, because her brother James, died suddenly about seven years ago at the age of 24. He collapsed while playing football, despite having no history of heart problems.

As well as raising money for CRY, the team hopes to raise awareness of sudden adult death syndrome (SADS). The team will set off from Messina on September 11 and aim to arrive in Milan 13 days and 1,000 miles later and hope to raise £5,000 through the challenge.

Ms Paterson, 26, a social worker, said: "For me this is not only about my personal wish to find out what happened to my brother, but also to work towards it not happening to others in the future."

For more information about the challenge or to sponsor the team, visit www.teambuzz.co.uk.