Andrew Breen, a history student at Greenwich University, is preparing to ditch his books and cycle 280 miles across Cambodia with his deaf friend Carl Morris, 29.

The 21-year-old has pledged to raise more than £2,900 for the National Deaf Children's Society.

He is one of 1,500 people to have signed up for the challenge since it began in 1997.

Mr Breen, of Troughton Road, Charlton, will take part in the challenge between March 10 and March 20 and spend seven days cycling. He said: "It will be hard work and I still have a lot of training to do between now and the trip but I'm determined to succeed and raise as much money as possible for deaf children and their families across the UK."