A WREXHAM motorcyclist is set to spend over four weeks travelling over 12,000 miles across some of the most inhospitable terrain and extremes of temperature in the world.

In recent years, John Peers, from Wrexham, has participated in several solo adventures, but this time he’ll be riding from the town across Europe to Siberia, including visits to St Petersburg and Moscow en route.

He’s undertaking this arduous ride, which begins June 1, not so much to fundraise, but rather to raise awareness of a range of health-related volunteer organisations that are close to his heart.

He is a Blood Bike rider in North Wales, where he works with NHS Wales to deliver test results and essentials, such as vital blood plasma, across the region. He’s also a qualified First Responder and is undertaking this epic journey to publicise the importance of this organisation too.

Mr Peers is also raising awareness of the GoodSAM app, which is linked to the First Responders’ initiative. GoodSAM (Smartphone Activated Medics) incorporates the world's most advanced emergency alerting and dispatching platform, through a community of over 40,000 trained and trusted community responders. The GoodSAM Cardiac system integrates with the ambulance service, to trigger ‘bystander response’ while the ambulance service is en route, including alerts on access to defibrillator stations in the locality.

Mr Peer’s love of motorcycling has been inspired by his hero Ila Teromaa, who he met and has been inspired to undertake various challenges on his bike in memory of the Finnish champion speedway rider.

Mr Peers commented: “I’m ready to undertake the challenge and hope that my feats will convince other people to become Blood Bike riders too.

“Organisations such as the Blood Bikes are making a real difference to patient care and the NHS. If, like me, you enjoy riding your motorcycle then helping to change peoples’ lives whilst out riding is a bonus.

“It’s the same with the GoodSAM project and First Responders. Though made up of volunteers, they are all vital parts of the bigger picture and it means a great deal to me to raise their profiles in any way I can.

“I’ll be riding my Honda Africa Twin across some spectacular but demanding terrain and although I’ve completed some long rides in the past, I’m not sure exactly what to expect through 25 different countries en route to Siberia.”

For further information on John’s solo challenge, you can contact him through Facebook John Peers and follow his trip through You Tube’s John Peers Motorcycle Tours. For more information on any of the volunteer organisations John is raising awareness of, visit the websites at www.bloodbike.wales, http://www.sja.org.uk and www.goodsamapp.org.