VOLUNTEERS are taking part in a charity ride from Bury to Gallipoli — without leaving the borough.

Riders are backing Bury’s Fusilier Museum 2,000-mile sponsored cycle on exercise bikes in the foyer of Barclays Bank on The Rock.

The challenge, which will run from next Tuesday until Saturday, July 26, will raise funds for a new exhibition set to open next April in commemoration of the Gallipoli landings centenary.

Museum and Barclays staff, friends of the museum, Army Reserve officers and I Will If You Will representatives and volunteers are all taking part in the feat.

Sarah Stevenson, collections officer and curator of the new Gallipoli 100 exhibition, said: “Cycling is so popular at the moment so we wanted to take advantage of this and raise some valuable funds.

“We are hoping it will be a huge success and the public and businesses will get behind us.

“It is not an easy challenge, but we have a huge team of enthusiastic people who will give their all to ensure we get there!”

Four exercise bikes have been provided by Fit For Free gym and the cyclists’ route and progress will be monitored on an interactive screen donated by Leapfrog Technologies.

Barclays are matching all funds raised with donation buckets in the bank’s foyer and businesses asked to donate £100 to sponsor a country on the route.

Andy Kempster, business manager at Barclays in Bury, said: “We are delighted to be able to host and take part in raising funds for the Gallipoli centenary exhibition.

"We recognise the importance of the Gallipoli landings in the community and the great work the museum does, so this is our way of saying thank you and giving something back.”

The Gallipoli 100 exhibition, due to open on April 25 next year, will be part of a weekend of events commemorating the centenary of the Gallipoli landings in which the Lancashire Fusiliers famously won six VCs before breakfast.

It is hoped the exhibition will display all six Victoria Crosses together for the first time. Experts are searching for the final VC, of Major Cuthbert Bromley.

Earlier this year the museum received Arts Council funding to commission a commemorative piece of music which is currently being composed by Martin Ellerby and will be performed for the first time during next year’s Gallipoli weekend.

To get involved in the bike ride: email Sarah Stevenson on sarah.stevenson@fusilier museum.com