A STUDENT is tackling a gruelling challenge to raise money for an eco-friendly charity helping African communities.

Ben Hodgson, 21, from South Bank, York, will cycle from London to Paris over four days in September to raise funds for Napenda Solar Community, which installs solar panels in East Africa.

The second year Sociology student at Nottingham University is no stranger to charity expeditions, having already travelled to the poverty-hit region in 2013 with ITV sport presenter Rob Walker as part of the YOLO Africa trip.

The 12-day trip saw the group of young people accompany Walker to East Africa where they volunteered in orphanages and painted schools.

The experience formed a lasting impression on Ben, who is eager to help educate and provide for the community.

He said: "The trip was a life-changing experience and I'm at a stage in my life now where I have some free time on my hands to do something like this.

"The Napenda Solar charity is connected to the trip, and I am doing it as my way of giving something back to an opportunity that changed my life.

"I feel what I am doing might possibly inspire others to do something similar."

The former Millthorpe School pupil will set off from Crystal Palace, south London, in September, and will join hundreds of other cyclists taking part in the capital to capital bike ride.

Cyclists tackle 90 miles in the first day before taking on a further 205 miles over three days.

Ben is part of his university's Road Cycling society and has spent time in between his studies building up his fitness for the challenging task ahead.

He says the charity is close to his heart and he hopes to make another trip to East Africa during a gap year in 2017.

To donate visit www.gofundme.com/benscycle