TWO Poole Hospital staff will be touring the Asian dragon of Vietnam the tough way – by bicycle.

The daring duo, who like nothing more than a challenge, are to pedal more than 400 miles over eight days from Hanoi to Sapa hoping to raise thousands of pounds for the Poole Hospital Charity.

Penny Jarvis and Carole Ingham will be tackling 40 to 70 miles of beautiful, “quite hilly” countryside every day, passing rice fields, rugged mountains and white sandy beaches.

After the challenge of climbing Mt Kilimanjaro last autumn, Penny, 61, who managed women’s and children’s health services and now works in administration for Patient Advice and Liaison Services, said she fancied something different and had always wanted to visit Vietnam.

“Kilimanjaro was very cold,” she said. “I fancied somewhere rather warmer this time. We shall enjoy the challenge and do something good for the hospital at the same time.”

She hopes to outdo the £3,500 she raised for the maternity unit and her sponsorship will raise funds for the children’s unit.

Carole, 56, a neo-natal nurse practitioner is raising money for an education fund, paying for specialist training in her unit. “They have stopped the funding,” she said. “It’s really important.”

She ran the London marathon a few years ago and hopes to beat the £2,000 she raised then for neo-natal care.

In training together, they are both looking forward to the experience. “We both run marathons so we know how to pace ourselves,” said Penny.

Four cyclists have so far signed up for the challenging trip in late October but the hospital has 12 places and is keen to recruit others to raise funds for the hospital department of their choice.

The organisers have provided an 18-week training plan and provide the bikes and back up, including a UK doctor who goes with them.

For more information call 01202 448449 or email fundraising@ poole.nhs.uk for an information pack.