Double Olympic medallist Geraint Thomas has given his blessing to charity cyclists riding across Wales in aid of a Kenyan School.

Five brave bikers are heading from Holyhead to Cardiff to raise £2,000 for Ilkley-based charity BASIK (Build a School in Kenya).

The charity supports children and orphans in poverty in the African country, providing them with long-term education. The aim of the trek is to raise enough funds for four teachers to work for a year at Kilimani Primary School, near Mombassa. BASIK also paid for the building of the school.

The cycle team, made up of Andrew Callaghan, Ian Thomas, Richard Bryan, Andrew Waterhouse and Chris Normington, has travelled from Leeds to take part in the challenge.

The team is due to cover 271 miles, averaging 55 miles per day, to complete the challenge in five gruelling days, including taking on the 5,000-metre climb on the Lon Las Cymru.

Fresh from victory in the men’s team pursuit at the London 2012 Olympics, Geraint Thomas said: “I wish them well for the ride, hope they raise as much cash as possible for this truly worthy cause and hope they enjoy the stunning Welsh countryside too.”

BASIK CEO and ride participant, Chris Normington, said funds will also go towards the upkeep of Kilimani, paying for the water supply, equipment, teachers, mosquito nets and fees for those pupils who have been orphaned through the AIDS epidemic.

Visit facebook.com/Build-Schools-EndPoverty to make a donation.