A GREAT grandfather who set off from St Davids to cycle more than 200 miles home and raise money for vulnerable girls in India has had his trip cut short after a bike accident.

Dick Venables, 85, set off last week with the aim of raising £10,000 for the Pratigya Children's Shelter in India which provides a safe place for young girls who are at risk of being forced into sexual exploitation in the southern Indian state of Telangana.

Dick and his support team were waved off from set Cross Square in, St Davids last Thursday by deputy mayor of St Davids, Mike Chant, and the Dean of St Davids Cathedral, the Very Reverend Jonathan Lean.

Last Sunday, just over half way through their 200 plus mile journey to Stafford, Dick had a fall at speed on a mountain road near Aberystwyth he was bruised and bloodied but has been checked over and given a clean bill of health by his doctor.

"He is determined to continue the ride in September," said a supporter. "He completed 110 miles, and is still unstoppable"

Last year Dick and his grandson Marcus cycled the route in reverse, from Stafford to St Davids he raised over £13,000, with donations going to Dalit Freedom Network UK, a trafficking prevention organisation working with women and children from poor and marginalised communities, including Dalits (Untouchables).

Earlier this year Dick visited the Pratigya Children's Shelter, funded by the network, to see how the money will be spent. The shelter enables girls and young women to grow up in a caring environment with access to counselling, healthcare, good nutrition and education.

"We are so grateful to Dick – he is an amazing man," said Jeevaline Kumar, Director of Pratigya.

"The money that he is raising will help us to expand our shelter so that we can care for 100 girls who otherwise would be severely exploited and abused. The shelter is making a huge difference in the lives of these children. Here they can live with dignity.

"All of the girls in our shelter have dreams and ambitions, aspiring to become doctors, lawyers and engineers. We are working hard to make all their dreams become a reality. Thanks to Dick we can do this for even more girls."