Cyclists will traverse from Venice to Manchester in a bid to raise funds to provide transport for the hospital's Renal Unit staff for visits to patients doing dialysis at home.

The organisers of the annual Life Cycle marathon event are planning to buy a car to be used by Renal Unit staff, enabling them to visit patients more regularly.

The 12th edition will kick off on August 15, with cyclists expected to arrive at the Old Trafford, in Manchester, two weeks later.

The challenge will take the cyclists to seven countries and they will cover 2,100 kilometres over 11 cycling days.

The plan is for Manchester United footballers to cycle the last few kilometres of the race and cross the finish line with the cyclists.

The route is considered one of the toughest bike routes in Europe. A hill climb at Switzerland's St Gotthard Pass will be dedicated to Cliff Micallef, who died last year after he was hit by a car while training for Life Cycle. Some 23 cyclists have already expressed interest in taking part in this year's event.