A COURAGEOUS NHS worker is preparing for the ride of his life. Geoff Pitt, 49, a systems analyst at the Lister Hospital, is getting ready to cycle 631 miles from London to Geneva in aid of The Comet s charity of the year, Building Blocks, which supports b

A COURAGEOUS NHS worker is preparing for the ride of his life.

Geoff Pitt, 49, a systems analyst at the Lister Hospital, is getting ready to cycle 631 miles from London to Geneva in aid of The Comet's charity of the year, Building Blocks, which supports babies and children cared for by the Lister.

He will set off in September and will encounter places such as Paris, the Jura Mountains which are north of the French Alps and the Col de la Faucille peak in France - the highest point of the journey at 1,232 metres.

Geoff said: "Last year's trip to Paris was a fantastic experience and has left me fitter than I have been for some years. I've been keeping this up over the winter by joining a gym and working out regularly. This will see me starting my training rides from an improved position this year, have an even better journey and raise more than twice as much for Building Blocks."

Geoff's fundraising target for the trip is £3,250 and to get him off to a flying start the Unicorn Ceilidhs have organised a ceilidh - a traditional Gaelic dance - at Hitchin Town Hall tomorrow (Friday).

Geoff added: "English ceilidh dancing is massive fun, it's easy to learn, and good exercise. The music from the live bands draws on traditional English tunes but is coloured by a wide range of influences such as rock, reggae, jazz and klezmer, resulting in vibrant rhythms which set your feet moving.

"I have been on the committee of Unicorn Ceilidhs since we started, in 2001, in charge of the bar and we get great satisfaction from bringing simple pleasure to many people on a monthly basis.

"I am very happy that we will be combining this with making a contribution of the night's surplus to the Building Blocks appeal."

The event starts at 7.30pm and costs £8 for adults and £4 for under 14s. For more information about the Unicorn Ceilidhs visit: www.unicornceilidhs.org.uk or to sponsor Geoff visit: www.justgiving.com/geoffpitt

The Comet has reported that Building Blocks has put its name to moneyboxes which are being sent out to all children in schools and nurseries in Stevenage and Letchworth GC.

When they are full the donations in each box will be split 50/50 between BB and the relevant school.

The BB moneyboxes can be handed in to:

STEVENAGE

Stevenage Town Centre Management Company,

Emerald Florists

Specsavers

Kaffs Kards

Select Appointments

Clubman of London

Klick Photoprint

Marks and Spencer

Leapfrog Day Nursery

Rodney's School of Dancing

Boots

LETCHWORTH

Garden Square Shopping Centre

Astrium

The Globe Restaurant

Letchworth Brightspells.com

Wonderland Day Nursery

Carmic Solution

Grant School of Irish Dancing

Costa Coffee

Marks and Spencer

Woolworths

Soecsavers

The Body Shop

New Look

F Hinds

Boots

Iceland

Wonderland Day Nursery

Salsa 'n' Spice

BALDOCK

Baldock Harlequin Costume Hire

Brightspells.com

Rodney's School of Dancing

BIGGLESWADE

Select Appointments

Lets Party

WELWYN GC

Select Appointments