With a shared love of cycling and the great outdoors, a couple are set to pedal some tough climbs which would not look out of place in the Tour De France to raise funds for Yorkhill Children’s Charity.

In September, Chris Roy, originally from Largs, and his Polish girlfriend Iwona Sztorc, are setting off on their bikes from Barcelona, and in the space of nine days, they will be spanning three countries.

They first met in March 2012 as housemates, and then got together in the August of that year through a passion for adventure as they often went rock climbing or mountain biking together.

Chris, 29, a senior designer at Skyscanner, was a former patient at Yorkhill. At birth, Chris was diagnosed with oesophageal atresia - a rare condition whereby the oesophagus went into his lung instead of his stomach - and was given his last rites at the hospital. Despite the concerns that he might not have survived the operation Chris is now fit and healthy thanks to the efforts of the doctors and nurses of Yorkhill.

Two years ago, in June 2012, Chris completed a solo cycle from Calais on the north east of France to Bordeaux, near the Atlantic coast, raising almost £4,000 for the hospital.

And just under two weeks from launching their website (http://cycle-charity.org) the couple have received over £400 in donations for their new challenge through their Just Giving website (http://justgiving.com/pedaltoportofino) and are looking to raise more funds through some upcoming events.

The trip this year - fully planned by the couple with no event support - will follow the coast around the Mediterranean, through France and finally finishing up in the small town of Portofino in Italy. They will be passing through Marseilles, St Tropez, Monaco and Genoa stopping off at B&Bs along the route.

Covering an average of 130km each day, Iwona and Chris will face their toughest section on their eighth day as they ascend over 8,283ft (3,800ft higher than Ben Nevis) as they rise and descend over the South West edge of the Alps. They will also be passing over the edge of the Pyrenees mountain range and in total have four days out of the nine with more than 6,000ft of ascent. (full route details can be seen here: http://cycle-charity.org/category/barcelona-to-portofino/) Excited by the physical challenge, Iwona has been out with Chris training regularly, doing 70 - 90 miles each time.

Iwona, 31, originally from Brzostek - a small town in Poland - moved to the UK back in 2003 and now lives in Prestonpans, East Lothian, with Chris and their border collie Ness. Still struggling to adapt to the Scottish climate Iwona is hoping for some sunny miles on the trip.

The couple would be grateful for any help or support which can be offered to help with the event and to help raise funds for the charity.