A CEO who helps businesses crack European markets is hoping to break the back of the French Pyrenees on a marathon charity cycle.

Paul McIntosh, chief executive of The Mustard Concept in Wantage, is taking on the challenge in memory of his mum, sister, and one teenage girl from Grove.

He is just one member of the eight-strong Peaky Climbers team from Wantage, Grove and West Oxfordshire who will attempt the 700km ride.

The team is completed by John Boaler, Mark Crick, Ben Heavers, Neil Barson, Stuart Eadie, Allen Stacey and Simon Haly.

All eight challengers agreed to raise money for charity in memory of 17-year-old Maisie Norton from Grove.

Maisie, who went to King Alfred's Academy in Wantage, died in October 2015 after a six-year battle with cancer.

Mr McIntosh was especially touched by her death as his son Jai, now 19, was a close friend.

He and the team will be raising some of their money for the Caring Cancer Trust, which organises holidays for terminally-ill children and teenagers including Maisie.

Mr McIntosh said the entire team had wanted to support the charity in honour of Maisie's parents Rosie and Steve.

But they are also raising money for the British Lung Foundation in memory of Mr McIntosh's late mother and sister.

His mother Valerie, who lived in Hertfordshire, died nearly ten years ago from a lung disease called Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

His sister Tania Masters passed away last November from a different lung condition – Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

With these memories at the front of mind, the Peaky Climbers are already training hard for the marathon effort next September.

The friends will attempt to cycle the King of Mountains route from the Tour de France, across the French Pyrenees and Alps.

The 700km ride – equivalent to cycling up Mount Everest 2.25 times – includes 20,000 metres of mountain climbs and will take seven days.

The Peaky Climbers want to raise a total of £30,000 for British Lung Foundation and Caring Cancer Trust.

Mr McIntosh, 49, who lives in Woodlands Brook, Wantage, with his wife Nicola and their sons Jai and Ethan, said: "My family have been touched by lung disease; these charities do amazing work to support people with lung disease and cancer and we wanted to give something back."

He also said he was feeling 'incredibly apprehensive' about the challenge.

The team are being sponsored by Bellwood Projects Ltd and Vtech Systems Ltd.

Caring Cancer Trust chairman Chris Ody said: "We are so grateful to the Peaky Climbers team for raising the essential funds for our Healing Holidays for kids with cancer.

"We could not maintain our crucial support programme for children with cancer, and their caring families, without such fundraising efforts and donations."

British Lung Foundation chief executive Dr Penny Woods also thanked the team and wished them luck.

To support the team visit peakyclimbers.com