A DUNFERMLINE biker is set to travel more than 5000 miles , visiting 21 countries, in just 21 days to fund-raise for charity.

Motorbike enthusiast Dave Sallnow, of Birrell Drive, is set to embark on his epic adventure on 9th June to raise money for CHAS – complete with a tent, sleeping bag and cooking equipment.

The 63-year-old, who works as a pilot boat coxswain for Forth Ports, will ride his KTM 690 Duke across Europe for the charity after being inspired by becoming a grandfather eight months ago.

His route is set to begin by heading to Portsmouth from Rachel House, where he will board a ferry to Santander in Spain, before making his way across the continent to Eastern and Central Europe before finishing in the Netherlands in time for the Dutch TT motorcycling event.

He said, “It is a long distance at my age! I do a lot of long-distance bike trips and last year and friend and I decided to do a return to the ‘Great Escape’, where we went to Germany and Poland and found the field where Steve McQueen did his jump.

"The son of the former owner of the farm, who owns it himself, thought I was Steve McQueen’s son which was amusing and we went along with it!

“I was planning on doing another trip and after my granddaughter was born I decided to do it for a children’s charity and they were also keen.

"In the past I’ve raised money for the armed forces having been in them myself but Rachel House is right on our doorstep so I thought it was a good one to raise funds for.

“I’ll be completely self-sufficient and everything I’ll take will be on the back of my bike.

"It is the biggest challenge I’ve had so for as it’s over 5000 miles but I’m looking forward to it. It is quite daunting, especially going to Croatia and Bosnia as I’ve never been there before, but it is exciting as well.” Dave will be sporting a CHAS t-shirt throughout his trip and has a donation page set-up online, with all funds going to the charity.

To sponsor him on his journey, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/DaveSallnow.