Cycling enthusiasts are being invited to hear plans for a new charity challenge to be held in Cuba.

The challenge will help raise money to take action against heart disease and a meeting to discuss the project is being held next month. 

Five UK charities have organised the challenge to raise funds to support their work and men and women of all ages are invited to get training and take part. 

Funds raised by the 320km ride across the Caribbean's largest and least commercialised island will be divided equally between the British Heart Foundations, CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), Echo UK (the Tiny Tickers Charity), Heart UK and Wessex Heartbeat. 

The work of the charities ranges from detecting heart problems in babies before they are born and supporting families coping with cardiac disease in young people through to funding preventative work, providing specialist facilities and equipment and funding life-saving research into the causes and treatment of heart disease. 

The Big Heart Bike Ride Cycle Cuba takes place from 14 to 23 April 2007.  It will be a five-day cycling adventure through towns and villages.  Highlights will include visits to the Bay of Pigs, famous for US aggression on Cuba in 1961; Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; the Sierra del Escambray mountains and Santa Clara with its statue of che Guevara. 

At the end of the challenge cyclists will be able to spend time in Havana. 

Entrants need to pay a registration fee of £250 and raise a minimum of £2,700 in sponsorship and donations. 

A meeting will be held at 2pm on Saturday, September 16 at the New Connaught Rooms in Covent Garden, London. 

To attend or to register for the ride call 0845 408 2698 or email events@actionforcharity.co.uk