6:41PM, Tue May 1, 2012

Bike For Bobby: Robbie Elliott’s 3,500 Mile Training Update

By Nisha Joshi Location: Newcastle

Video: Robbie Elliott's Bike for Bobby training

Former Newcastle United defender Robbie Elliott’s training is underway for his 3,500 mile cycle challenge.

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In October Robbie and his friend Phil Gray cycle from Lisbon to Newcastle via Porto, Barcelona, Eindhoven, Ipswich and Fulham and Wembley in London.

The challenge is the first undertaken by the Robbie Elliott Foundation and will raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

Robbie Elliott chose to fundraise for cancer charities after losing his father and both parents-in-law to the illness.

Taking charge of his and Phil's training is experienced strength and conditioning coach Nick Grantham who has worked with Olympic athletes and professional footballers.

The duo's cycling programme has been written by Tour de France rider Daniel Lloyd.

Most of the training so far has been confined to the gym, but Robbie and Phil now plan to do more cycling around the Northumberland hills.

When Robbie is away in America working for its national youth football teams, he takes an exercise bike with him so he can train in his hotel room.

He is just at the start of his training but is not daunted by the challenge ahead.