A PAIR of Newport train drivers will be using a different method of transport when they cycle 100 miles to raise money for an eight-month-old baby born with Down’s syndrome and a congenital heart disease.

Peter Evans and Alasdair Graham, train drivers with DB Schenker, are fundraising towards the cost of care for Ava-Grace Williams from St Julian’s, who needs to be on oxygen 24 hours a day because her aorta is crushing the airway from her lung and is waiting for life-changing surgery.

Mr Evans, aged 52, of St Julian’s said: “We work with (Ava-Grace's dad) Ben and he was talking about his daughter. Alasdair and I immediately thought about ways in which we could help.

“We haven’t had long to put a route together but it will be a Tour of Gwent style route. We will be going out towards Magor, Tintern and Chepstow.”

The pair will be setting off from outside the Screwfix store on the Maesglas Industrial Estate between 8.30am and 8.45am on Saturday, October 29, and expect to complete the 100 mile route in around six hours.

“We haven’t set a target but we want to raise as much as we can to help out,” added Mr Evans.

Throughout the ride, the pair will be picking up additional riders along the route, but it is only Mr Evans and Mr Graham who will be cycling the full 100 miles.

“We have had a problem with the JustGiving page as the previous one has closed down,” he added.

“We therefore would ask that anyone who would like to donate to our cause to hold fire for the moment and we will let them know when it is back up and running.”