COVERING four countries in four days sounds like a challenge in itself.

But Danny Bacon, co-director of Legend Presents and Loxwood Joust organiser, is planning to cover the 530km distance from London to Amsterdam on his bicycle over the Easter weekend – all to raise funds for Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice.

Joined by two friends, Matt Jones and Martin Haggis, who are cycling for North London Hospice and Parkinsons UK, Danny from London will start his cycling challenge at London’s Tower Bridge on Good Friday and finish at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam on Easter Monday.

They will travel through Calais, Bruges and Delft, taking in the UK, France, Belgium and the Netherlands over the four-day period.

Danny said: “I first started supporting Chestnut Tree House when I visited the hospice in 2013 with my dad.

“We were extremely moved by what we saw and knew we wanted to do something to help.

“Since then we have supported the charity at an annual event we organise locally, the Loxwood Joust, donating all proceeds from the ‘Pelt the Peasant’ stocks in the Kids Kingdom for one weekend.

“When my friends and I decided to take on a cycling challenge this year, I knew I wanted to do it to support Chestnut Tree House.

“The work they do to help local children and families is inspiring, and I know that every penny I raise will make a real difference.

“It is 15 years since the hospice opened so I wanted to do something a bit special to mark the occasion, in addition to supporting them at the Loxwood Joust in the summer.

“I’ve set my fundraising target at £500, but I’m hoping to exceed that.”

In its 15th birthday year, Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice wants to inspire everyone to make every moment count.

Adventure-seekers like Danny, seizing the moment with his cycling challenge, will really make a difference.

They will help the charity to help families live for today, for tomorrow, for the Now.

Jayne Todd, community fundraiser at Chestnut Tree House, said: “We are so grateful to Danny and Maurice Bacon for supporting us at the Loxwood Joust for the last few years.

“It costs us £6,850 a day to provide all our specialist care services – both at the hospice and in families’ own homes – but that is only part of the story.

“We know that there are more families in Sussex who need our help, so we continually need to raise funds and increase awareness of the work we do.”

Go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/danny-bacon to support Danny.