A GP from Bushey is getting set to pedal across hills and mountains in blistering heat to help raise cash for charity.

David Zemmel, of the Attenborough surgery, in London Road, will join 14 friends and family members on the 400km ride through northern Israel.

The trip is raising money for Bar Yochai School in the region’s Meron village, but about £1,000 of David’s sponsorship money will also be donated to The Peace Hospice, Watford.

Among the challenges faced by the riders, led by David’s brother Jason, is cycling up Israel’s highest mountain, the 2,000m Mount Hermon.

David said: “All of us are very much amateurs and this is the first time I’ve done anything like this. It’s going to be bloody hard. The course is very hilly and it’s going to be about 30°C over there. We’re going to be on the saddle for about eight hours a day.”

The money raised for the school will help develop a robotic and computer lab that teaches industry skills to children with special needs to allow them to find a job.

Regardless of this goal, David also acknowledging the local work done by the Peace Hospice, has allowed sponsors to pick which charity they want to donate money to.

He said: “I chose the Peace Hospice as it is local and I know how much support they give my patients.”

In preparation for the race, David, 31, has been dedicating many weekends and early mornings to training.

He said he had battled England’s unpredictable and often cold weather over nine months to cycle about 1,000 miles around North London and Hertfordshire.

David lives with his two children, Noah, 2, Thea, 1, and his wife Melissa. The bike trip starts on Sunday, October 26.

To sponsor David and donate to the school visit www.justgiving.com/davidzemmel. To donate to the Peace Hospice, visit www.justgiving.com/drzemmel.