A RIBBLE VALLEY businessman is preparing for the bike ride of a lifetime said to be completed by fewer people than have been to the moon.

Tim Lawson, owner of East Lancashire energy drink firm Science In Sport, is riding with former football star Geoff Thomas in the Race Across America.

The 40-year-old of Clayton-le-Dale completed a non stop 24-hour ride yesterday from Wembley to Manchester as part of the team of four's training.

Mr Lawson often sponsors Thomas a recovering leukaemia patient with his fundraisers but this time he decided to join in when another rider was needed.

The team set out on the 500-mile trip as the final big push in preparation for the 3,052 mile non-stop race in America next month which covers 14 US states.

The relay team practised their change-overs, taking it in turns to ride for about 20 minutes each, and pedalled throughout the night sleeping in power naps.

Recovering back at work today Mr Lawson said: "I decided to join in when Geoff said he was short of a fourth team member. I got to know him last year and wanted to help out.

"I am used to doing track racing and have competed before and done well. But the sleep depravation is what will affect me the most I think.

"I'm tired after one night and America could be 10 days. That is the maximum time allowed. We hope to do it in less than a week. The record is five and a half days."

Thomas who came close to signing for Blackburn Rovers in 1992, but the transfer fell through at the last minute dedicated his life to fundraising after being diagnosed with leukaemia in 2003. SIS, which won the Lancashire Evening Telegraph Business Award for innovation and design last year, also sponsored Thomas' efforts in the Tour de France last summer in aid of leukaemia charities.

The family firm, based in Brockhall Village, is official nutrition partner for the England Cricket Board, and boasts of helping bring home the Ashes.

The company which also has a manufacturing facility in Huncoat with more than 30 employees also works with the Great Britain Cycling Team, and recently supported promotion winning Accrington Stanley.

The drinks, which the team will be well stocked up with before the challenge starts on June 13, use complex carbohydrates to boost performance.

To sponsor the trip visit www.geoff-thomas.com.