A BUSINESSMAN is due to ride last year’s Grand Depart route to raise money for a nursing team providing pain relief to sick children in North Yorkshire.

This weekend (Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20) David Macmillan will ride 120 miles along the 2014 Tour de France route, which includes the tough climb over the Buttertubs Pass between Hawes and Swaledale.

The 42-year-old, who is managing director of Dalton-based DM Scientific, will be riding with members of Northallerton Round Table to raise funds for Northallerton Children’s Community Nursing Team.

His bike has been provided by developer Mulberry Homes Yorkshire, which has pledged £200 towards his fundraising effort.

David, his wife Valerie and their three children recently moved into a home on Mulberry’s new development at Sowerby Gateway, near Thirsk, and like all residents were given a mountain bike on moving in.

He said: “We aim to raise as much money as possible to buy equipment that will help with pain relief when the nurses are visiting children in the community who are recovering from an operation or treatment.”

Mulberry Homes Yorkshire sales and marketing manager, David Meacham, said: “The reason we give each new household at Sowerby Gateway a mountain bike is to encourage more sustainable forms of transport, so to see the bike being used by David in this way is fantastic.

“We wish him all the success at the weekend.”

Anyone who wishes to sponsor David and the Northallerton Round Table can contact him on 07926 175752.

The Round Table is also looking to recruit new members aged 18-45 so those who are interested can contact David on the same number.