Three businessmen from Gwent will be swapping their business suits for lycra on Wednesday as they take to the road on their bikes to ‘Ride to the Rugby’ raising money for Shelter Cymru.

Matt Cunnell and Roger Hawkins, of Anglo-Celtic Financial Consultants, will be joined by former Wales international Hal Luscombe, of Luscombe & Co, when they set off from the Millennium Stadium en-route to reach the Stade de France in Paris for the Six Nations clash between France and Wales.

The trio have been preparing for the challenge for the last three months, both on the saddle and attracting sponsorship from local businesses and individuals.

Matt Cunnell said: “We’ve put the miles in while training and although it has been hard and gruelling, we have been motivated by the fantastic support we have received from all we have approached. None of us have taken part in an endurance event like this before so we don’t really know what to expect but it’s an honour to have this opportunity to participate while raising money for such a good cause.”

Andrew Jones, from Shelter Cymru, said: “We are very grateful to Matthew and his fellow cyclists for taking up this challenge. Not only do they have to cycle 300 miles in what could be difficult weather but have been set the challenge of raising a minimum of £1,500 each.

"Shelter Cymru’s mission is to improve people’s lives through our advice and support services and through training, education and information work. Through our policy, research, campaigning and lobbying, we help overcome the barriers that stand in the way of people in Wales having a decent affordable home.

"In the past year more than 230,000 visitors came to our website to view our advice online pages. We have improved our telephone advice service to ensure that the most urgent and complex cases receive the priority attention and face to face we have assisted nearly 16,000 people, preventing homelessness in 80 per cent of the cases where it was threatened. People of all ages with all types of accommodation sought help from Shelter Cymru. Events play a vital role in raising money for Shelter Cymru at a time when demand for our services is at a record high and this adventure is the biggest event ever undertaken by the charity.”