Brighton father to cycle 1,000 miles across Spain after daughter's life was transformed

ITV News Meridian's Malcolm Shaw spoke to Graham Caldow before he sets off on his epic challenge

A father from Sussex is taking on an extraordinary challenge to support the charity that's helped his daughter into work.

Graham Caldow will attempt to cycle one thousand miles through Spain in the hope of raising vital funds for Team Domenica.

The charity runs a number of cafés to train candidates in the skills they'll need for the world of work.

80% of people who are involved with the organisation go onto paid employment.

Graham's daughter Betsy has landed a front of house job at a Brighton hotel, all thanks to Team Domenica.

Graham said, "It's increased her confidence enormously. It's given her a purpose to her day where she thinks of herself as a food and beverage assistant, that's her small contribution to society.

"It forces her to interact with the world, in the morning she goes to catch the bus then she goes to work and then interacts with guests and work colleagues so it consolidates a lot of the things she's learned throughout the years.

Graham's been putting in the hours of preparation ahead of his solo trip. He said,

"I've been training since the summer along the coast at Brighton to Saltdean. I tend to cycle five days a week so I've been putting in quite a few miles, althouhg this is much longer than Ive cycled before I feel prepared.

"I'm staring in Tarifa in the southern tip of Spain, cycling up the east coast to Barcelona, over the mountains, and if that doesn't kill me, cruising down into Bilbao."

Graham will set off on early in the New Year. His progress towards that one thousand mile target will be closely monitored by his daughter Betsy.

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