THE owner of a Ramsbottom estate agents is gearing up for a mammoth cycling challenge through the Alps this summer.

Melanie Duffin, who owns Lifestyle Sales and Lettings in Whalley Road, but lives in Annecy, in southern France, will take on this year’s Étape du Tour on July 8.

The annual event allows amateur cyclists to cycle the same route as a stage of the Tour de France, with this year's route beginning in Annecy and finishing in Le Grand-Bornand in the Alps.

Ms Duffin, aged 42, will be joined by her partner Dominique on the 169-km challenge, which will see them ascend through the mountains at an average gradient of 11 per cent.

The motivation for her taking part is to raise money and awareness for a rare disease called progressive supranuclear palsy, also known as PSP.

She said: “ My mum’s husband had PSP, and he died last week. I’m trying to create a bit more awareness because it is an awful condition. I have seen how much my mum has suffered because there isn’t much help out there.

“I wanted to do the challenge anyway because it is on my door step. This is something that is going to be really hard for me so it will be a personal challenge. I thought I would push myself to do something and try to raise awareness and money for charity at the same time.”

While her partner is hoping to complete the challenge in under six hours, Melanie says she will be happy just to finish.

“I’m more of a runner myself. I do cycle but I have never competed or done more than 100km before.

“I did my first big ride this week and climbed 67km and I really felt it, so I have got quite a lot of training to do. My bum is hurting just thinking about it.”

Ms Duffin, who moved to France about five years ago, has set up a Justgiving page, and says she would be ‘over the moon’ if she could raise £1,500.

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/melanie-duffin2