A BICESTER dad has been given the chance of a lifetime to cycle with two sporting heroes.

Darren Ball, 40, is one of 10 chosen out of 15,000 Virgin Media staff to join cricket legend Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff and rugby hero Lawrence Dallaglio on a leg of a 2,862km cycle ride across Europe.

Father-of-two Mr Ball, will join the last stage of the 22-day ride, cycling 568km alongside the men from France to the Olympic Stadium in London.

The Dallaglio Flintoff Cycle Slam 2012 is supported by Mr Ball’s employer and 10 spaces were offered to staff. Some 250 other riders will join the trip, starting in Greece on April 23.

Mr Ball, of Purslane Drive, hopes to raise £3,000 for the three charities that benefit.

The AF Foundation was set up by Andrew and Rachael Flintoff to develop children’s rehabilitation and physiotherapy units, the Dallaglio Foundation researches prostate cancer and Virgin Unite supports young people.

Mr Ball said: “I’ll do stage five — the glory leg. It’s a big thing to be selected and both charities are very relevant to me.”

His son Lewis, five, was born with hip problems and had to spend the first three months of his life in a harness.

And Mr Ball’s father-in-law Alan Scott, who lived in Brackley, died in 2005 from prostate cancer.

Mr Ball, who also lives with wife Julie and other son Hayden, two, has been training on Sunday mornings.

To sponsor Mr Ball visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Darren.Ball