A Shropshire woman is gearing up to take part in a 5,000 mile charity cycle ride across Africa after meeting the charity’s patron – Prince William.

Jessica Hatcher, from Clive, is taking part in the four-month trip in a bid to raise more than £100,000 for animal conservation in Africa.

Miss Hatcher is part of a Cycle of Life team that will travel through Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya to raise money for the Tusk Trust.

The riders met Prince William, who is patron of the Tusk Trust, on Monday. Two young men from the homeless charity Centrepoint, of which the Prince is also a patron, will also cycle the first thousand miles.Miss Hatcher said she was “feeling pretty good” about the challenge.

“It’s all entirely unsupported,” she said. “The money raised will go back to the conservation projects.

“Fitness-wise and physically I think I’m going to be fine. The reason we are doing it on bicycles is because the bicycle is the staple of African transport.

“It’s how people get around, it does all the donkeywork for families, horses are too expensive, literally it’s the way the Africans get around.”

The 25-year-old said she had enjoyed chatting to Prince William about the trip.

“It was great, he’s a very nice guy,” she said. “We had a really good chat and we showed him the equipment we are going to be taking. What we are doing is uniting for the first time two charities he really cares about.”

Miss Hatcher said she wanted to thank Hatchers Solicitors for sponsorship and London-based Artemis fund managers for support.

The team will fly out to Africa on April 11. Visit www.cycleoflife2008.com or www.justgiving.com/cycleoflife