Published: Saturday, 30th January, 2010 10:00am

He's Zin the saddle

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RUGBY legend Zinzan brooke is joining forces with an old adversary to raise funds for a charity which supports suffers of a genetic skin blistering condition.

The former New Zealand rugby union player, who briefly played for Home-Park Windsor RFC, will pedal alongside more than 250 brave entrants in the Dallaglio Cycle Slam, set up by England Rugby World Cup winner Lawrence Dallaglio.

Mr Brooke, runs a bed and breakfast in Windsor with his wife, is hoping to raise £20,000 for charity DebRA, which supports sufferers of Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), and Sports Relief, as he joins the fifth stage of the challenge which takes in the six nations stadia during the Tournament.

He said: "The great thing about Dallaglio's Grand Slam is that the monies raised will not only go to the DebRA charity, it will be broken down by Sports Relief and distributed to many other charities. My first inspiration was knowing that a proportion of the money I raise will go to DebRA.

"I first got involved with DebRA around three to four years ago, having five young children of my own I was deeply touched that DebRA is the only charity to provide services and support to children and families who suffer from EB. It's such a terrible disease that is yet to find a cure and I will support and help fund the charity as much as I can until they do."

Cyclists will set off from Rome on Friday, February 12, travelling to Paris, Twickenham, Cardiff, Dublin and finishing in Edinburgh. Mr Brooke will join the challenge in Rosslare on March 5 and cycle 549km to Edinburgh in eight days.

He said: "Being an ex-sportsman I know it's important to get my weight down for the ride, so I'm cycling and focusing on losing as much as I can before it starts. I started at the beginning of January at 128kg and intend to get to at least 120 by the end."

To sponsor Zinzan Brooke visit www.justgiving.com/zinzan