Last updated at 15:05, Thursday, 26 April 2012

AN internationally-renowned musician is set to cycle the length of the UK to raise money for charity.

Anthony Hewitt, founder and artistic director of the Ulverston International Music Festival, is set to begin his Land’s End to John O’Groats mission on May 9.

The concert pianist will not only pedal his way along the 1,200-mile route – he will stop to give a series of concerts on the way.

Mr Hewitt, who has nicknamed himself the Olympianist, hopes the feat will help him raise £20,000 for music and children’s charities.

He said: “I am very excited about this Herculean task.

“It embodies the spirit of the ancient games, which incorporated musical competitions into sporting events for normal citizens.”

Already in training for his trip, Mr Hewitt, of Ulverston, hopes to finish the journey in 21 days.

But instead of resting and recovering his energy levels during the evenings, he has pledged to complete 27 concerts in venues, market squares, cliff tops, quarries and fields along the way.

Mr Hewitt expects to travel through South Lakeland on Monday May 21, when he will give a concert at The Glebe in Bowness from his back-up van.

The pianist, who has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Northern Sinfonia, helped start the Ulverston International Music Festival eight years ago in a bid to bring the best musicians to the town.

First published at 13:09, Thursday, 26 April 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk