A Newent businessman whose daughter is on a gruelling 2,000-mile bike ride from India to China, has updated Punchline-Gloucester.com on her journey so far.

After 36 days in the saddle, Jenni Dorman, who has epilepsy and diabetes, has reached the waypoint of Bhutan. Her father, Richard, who is shadowing the journey to provide backup support, said Jenni faces a double challenge.

He said: "Jenni set off on October 26 from the Pakistan border to attempt to cycle across India and Bhutan all the way to the border with China, over 2,000 miles away. This would be a massive challenge for anyone, but for someone suffering with her conditions it's a mamouth task."

Speaking from Bhutan, he added: "The last few days have been really hard; her epilepsy has been playing up, as she is dog tired. The altitude here in the Himalayas is also a factor."

Jenni is attempting this challenge to raise awareness of epilepsy, he said, and to show the world that even with this debilitating condition, anything can be achieved.

Before she set off, Jenni said: "When I was first diagnosed with epilepsy I was having several seizures a week, and really struggled getting it under control. Now, thanks to organizations like this carrying out research, and new medications, my epilepsy is a lot more stable and I dont have seizures as frequently.

"Doing this bike ride would be a challenge for anyone, so cycling this number of miles while battling epilepsy and diabetes will be an even bigger challenge for me. I would love to raise a large sum of money for this charity to be able to help other people suffering with epilepsy."

In an update from Bhutan, Richard told Punchline: "She is an amazing role model and inspiration and the press and TV over here are all over her! Yesterday we were contacted by Bhutan's sports minister who hoped to meet her, though this may not be possible as we only have two days at this stage."

Richard, who owns Sterling House Estates, the name behind Gloucester's Westgate Retail Park, added: "This is a huge challenge. I've never seen the strength and resilience that Jenni is showing, and I am in absolute awe and full of pride of her. She's at a low ebb today after 36 days in the saddle, and an especially hard night with her epilepsy. She is exhausted."

Jenni is following in her father's tracks: after losing a close friend, in 2023 Richard pedalled from the family home in Clifford Mesne to Istanbul to raise cash for Gloucester charity Wheels for All.

He added: "We're up on the mountains in remote Bhutan, and she continues pedaling Eastward toward China today. I am so proud of her."

● The target for completion of the challenge is December 18 – and with more than half of the £5,000 target from Jenni's ride pledged, you can find out more about the appeal here .