Twenty-three years after last riding a unicycle, Totnes dad Simon Heyes is hoping his balance will hold out for a 100-mile sponsored one-wheeled pedal across Devon.

The 56-year-old has been gearing up for a coast-to-coast cycle from Ilfracombe in North Devon to Dartmouth in aid of a charity that supports children in care.

He aims to raise awareness of money for the National Youth Advocacy Service’s (NYAS) independent visitor service, of which he is the co-ordinator for the Devon branch.

Simon rekindled his unicycling expertise as a lockdown project having not ridden one since 1998, and decided to take it one step further by attempting to cycle across the county.

Due to set off on Monday August 23, the father-of-two estimates the ride from north-to-south will take him five days, and says he will be camping each night on route.

“I hope to reach Dartington by Friday August 27, and then set off from Totnes and wobble down to Dartmouth following the River Dart on Saturday,” he said.

“Hopefully by then I would have got the hang of the unicycle.

He added: “Going up hills is particularly challenging, but if I can succeed in raising awareness and some sponsorship for Devon’s children in care, every painful pedal turn will have been worth it.”

The NYAS visitor service matches adult volunteers with children in care, enabling them to spend time together to help the children develop new interests, mindsets, skills and hobbies as well as providing valuable leisure trips.

Currently however there are some 800 children in care in Devon and only 40 of them are matched with a volunteer.

Simon is supporting the national campaign to match 10 per cent of children with volunteers by the end of 2022.

He said: “I am fortunate to work with wonderful children in care in Devon, matching them with altruistic volunteer mentors.

“But the odds are stacked against them.

“From mental health to engagement with higher education we know that they are at greater risk of poorer life experiences, and I do not believe we should casually accept that situation.

“The independent visitor scheme aims to help improve the outcomes of children in care by matching them with a trusted adult who can help motivate, inspire, advise and support the child in care to have a better childhood and to have a better chance of a happier adulthood.”