A Portsmouth traffic supervisor has swapped motors for the pedals as he embarks on the cycling challenge of a lifetime in support of disadvantaged children.

Tom Dearie, 44, has linked up with seven other foot soldiers of the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal (TASA), a charity set up by kind-hearted Scotland fans to benefit those less fortunate in countries in which the Scottish national team has played.

Now the group are taking on one of their biggest challenges of all – cycling in five days from Wembley Stadium to Hampden Park, where Scotland will play England in their crucial World Cup qualifier this Saturday.

That is seeing them average more than 100 miles per day, with Mr Dearie – who is originally from Glasgow – desperate for his team to cross the finish line after smashing their funding aim.

“We started off with £5,000 as a target, but we reached that quite quickly, and so we doubled it to 10,” he explained.

“It’s now up to 12,500 now, so every pound that comes in now is an added bonus.

“I want to finish it first and foremost! I don’t want to get lost too many times and get no punctures, that sort of thing.

“But it was mainly to raise some money and we’ve beaten both our targets, so the actual ride itself, we need to just get out there, do it and take each day as it comes.

“To try and micromanage a bike ride makes it all go wrong, but we’ve got a rough idea of what we’re doing, we know the route and we’ll take each day as it comes.”

TASA was formed in its current guise in 2004 and originates from the efforts of a number of Scotland fans who wanted to raise funds to support a young boy who lost a leg in the Serbian war.

Fans clubbed together to help pay for a prosthetic leg for him and, since that date, TASA have made more than 60 consecutive donations to charities in countries where the national team play football.

The group, who are backed by energy supplier SSE, already a partner of The Scottish FA and Scottish Women’s Football (SWF), set off on Tuesday, with the event coming to mind when they travelled to Malta last September.

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Alex McLeish with the riders of the Tartan Army Sunshine Appeal

They also had a familiar face to support them in London, with former Scotland manager Alex McLeish on hand to pass on his best wishes, believing this initiative is what perfectly epitomises the Tartan Army spirit

“It’s a special cause, and part of the reason the Tartan Army are loved throughout the world,” he said.

“And everybody will see the Tartan Army for real in the flesh. It’s a great gesture by the guys, and they’ve now got a gruelling bike ride, they’re all looking fit and raring to go.

“I’m sure once or twice they’ll be in need of a wee push or shove if they are feeling they might want to stop, and it will be nice for the punters to give them a wave and a cheer to help them on their journey.

“Scotland have not been at a tournament for a long time, but hopefully we can change things starting with the match on Saturday

“To be playing England in a major tournament, to try and win the game under a resurgent England under Gareth Southgate, after they failed in the Euros, it’s the pinnacle for the Scots fans if we can win.”

SSE is proud to support the TASA charity bike ride. For more information and to donate go to: www.tasabikeride.co.uk/donate