Twenty intrepid members of staff from Aspire are gearing up for the challenging 140-mile Coast to Coast bike ride. The riders are raising money for two charities - Tiny Lives and Zoe's Place - both of which are close to the heart of Aspire MD Nigel Begg.

Tiny Lives helps newborn babies and their mums in Newcastle while Zoe's Place is a Middlesbrough hospice for babies with life-limiting or terminal illnesses. "Having just become a dad for the third time, I'm especially aware of the fantastic work both charities do and I'm hoping what we raise from the ride can make a real contribution," Nigel said.

The team is setting off from Whitehaven in Cumbria on Friday, October 11 and hopes to arrive in Sunderland on Sunday, October 13, 2013.

* Aspire TS is one of the region's leading technology companies, specialising in hosted services, data centre solutions, communications and traditional IT support. For more info go to www.aspirets.com