Two cyclists are gearing themselves up to push through mental and physical pain barriers by riding from Paris to Geneva.

Aries Janssens and Philip Marsden, from Prestatyn, will be members of a team undertaking the 400-mile ride – which follows part of the Tour de France route – in aid of the Ronald McDonald House charity.

Aries, 40, said: “I’ve cycled my entire life. With my dad being Dutch and owning a cycle shop, it’s always been a big part of my life, but I’ve never done anything like this before."

The idea of the doing ride, which will take place from July 29 to August 3, was suggested by Philip, who is Aries' training partner.

Philip, 42, raised £15,014 for the charity, which provides accommodation to families of hospitalised children, by completing a 320-mile cycle from London to Paris in 2014.

Aries added: "Day three will be a real mental barrier we’ll have to climb through. There are a couple of notorious climbs renowned for being tough.”

The final day will see the team – which also includes three of Philip’s quality consultant colleagues – cycle over the over the Col De La Faucille in the Jura Mountains, rising 4,500ft in just six miles before gliding downhill into Geneva.

It promises to be a tough ordeal for IT engineer Aries, who only returned to cycling four years ago after being involved in a serious cycling accident in 2011 when he nearly lost an arm.

He added: “When Phil approached me with the idea, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to for me to get back in the saddle.

"It won’t be a cycling holiday. It’s going to be a real challenge.”

The team have set a £20,000 fundraising goal and to date have raised £17,679.34.

Philip said: “I have five children and I am also a foster carer for two children, all between the age of six and 15, so know how hard it would be if one of those were in hospital and we had to travel back and forth each day and a house like this would make it so much easier."

l To donate, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/Team/LongerTallerFatter. A bag-pack supporting the cyclists will take place in Tesco in Prestatyn on Saturday, May 12.