Dentist in bid to fund the search for new antibiotics

Sarah Glover, of Birdgate Dental, in Pickering, is cycling 20 miles per day for 20 days, on top of her day job which she has been doing for 20 years. Sticking with the "20" theme, she is encouraging people to donate 20ps to help the cause.

She is raising money for Antibiotic Research UK, the world’s first charity devoted to finding new antibiotics.

Ms Glover said on day three she was still going strong. "I started on Monday, July 18 and finish on Saturday, August 6 - this is the date that I started as a newly qualified dentist at Birdgate Dental 20 years ago," she said. "The sunshine is lovely, but it certainly drains energy."

Ms Glover also suffers from a condition called exercise induced anaphylaxis. This means that she has to pace herself when exercising, and avoid gluten, otherwise she gets a severe allergic reaction - similar to people with nut allergies.

She was in hospital a month ago when she had an episode after accidentally eating gluten.

Despite the dangers, she is pressing on. "I am changing the 20-mile route each day to keep it interesting. I am doing most of it on roads, but will have some days on the mountain bike off road - which is much harder," she said.

"I am working full-time throughout the challenge which does mean I have to be very organised."

Founded in 2014 by leading scientific and clinical experts in antibiotic resistance, Antibiotic Research UK aims for the first new antibiotics to be in clinical use by 2020.

The charity is funded by public donation and hopes to replace the hole left by many of the big pharmaceutical companies, which have withdrawn from antibiotic drug development.

Ms Glover said: "Raising money for Antibiotic Research UK raises awareness of the importance of only using antibiotics appropriately and the great need to develop new antibiotics against resistant infections."

You can donate your 20ps, at dental practices in Ryedale and also online at justgiving.com/fundraising/Sarah-Herbert9