YORKSHIRE Air Ambulance paramedic Al Day is getting on his bike – quite literally – to support this weekend’s Examiner Charity Challenge.

Al, who spent four years based at Huddersfield Ambulance Station and Skelmanthorpe Health Centre, is taking part in the 16-mile mountain bike ride on Sunday on behalf of the air ambulance: one of the Challenge’s 13 nominated charities.

Al now works as a paramedic practitioner at Todmorden Ambulance Station when he is not on duty with the air ambulance crew.

He lives in Sowerby and fits his mountain biking hobby around his voluntary role of team leader of Calder Valley Search And Rescue Team.

Kerry Garner, the air ambulance’s West Yorkshire Community Fundraiser, is also lending her weight to the Challenge by signing up for the four-mile Nordic walk.

Nicky de Whytell, YAA West Yorkshire development officer said: “The Examiner Charity Challenge is now a main fixture in our charity’s West Yorkshire fundraising calendar and it is great to see two of my colleagues joining our other supporters and enjoying their respective challenges.”

It is still not too late to enter the Challenge. Simply turn up at Meltham Sports And Community Centre at Mean Lane in Meltham on Sunday morning, pay a £10 registration fee and do your chosen event.

After completing it you will receive £5 back.

There are no late entries for the 20km walk and the Nordic Walk, but you can still choose from a range of events including walks ranging from four miles to seven miles and cycle rides from an eight-mile family event, a 16-mile mountain bike ride and a 22-mile road ride.

The main starting time is 9am with all bike riders leaving by 10.30am and the last walkers setting off at 11.30am.

A one-mile course for disabled people and those with pushchairs will be held at Beaumont Park from 10am until noon.