AN INTREPID biker has begun a pilgrimage to Asia for his latest charity adventure.

John Peers, 59, from Bwlchgwyn, began his trek on Monday to the Caspian Sea, in memory of Finnish speedway rider Ila Teromaa, who died last year.

The epic trek is to raise money for the Blood Bikes Wales charity, and comes hot on the heels of John's last adventure as recently as June when he undertook an Arctic Circle solo motorbike ride covering 12,000 miles in 30 days.

That ride was in aid of the Lady Taverners Charity, and this latest journey is in aid of a charity very close to his heart.

Ahead of setting off, he told the Leader: "Blood Bikes is an entire volunteer charity but in addition to the motorcyclists themselves we also have fundraisers and controllers without whom nothing would work.

“In addition to carrying bloods from hospital to hospital we also carry breast milk for premature babies and anything thing else which requires an urgent delivery, saving the NHS tens of thousands of pounds every year."

He added: “I am so proud to be a member of Blood Bikes and would encourage anyone who would like to know about what we do to contact me, we give talks to schools, nursing homes, Women’s Institutes.

"I’m hoping to raise several thousand pounds on this trip for this great cause."

Setting off from The Maesgwyn in Wrexham town centre, John is travelling through western Europe, riding to Athens in southern Greece from where he will board a ferry over to Turkey.

Crossing southern Turkey will see him close to the borders of Syria, Iraq and Iran before he heads north into Armenia and Georgia.

More than 2,000 followers on social media will be following John's journey as he rides about 400 miles a day, over four hours before spending time chatting to and meeting people wherever he's staying along the way.

So far John has raised almost £1,500 through his latest jaunt, and anyone wishing to make a donation can do so via www.justgiving.com/fundraising/John-Peers5