ST BONIFACE Veterinary Practice in Crediton has recently joined XLVets, a group of 42 practices which shares clinical knowledge and best practice.

As part of this group St Boniface and other XLVet member practices will be raising money for two charities by vets getting on their bikes and cycling to this year's Dairy Event and Livestock Show, at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire.

Two XLVets calves, not real calves but heavy life-sized plastic models, will also be making the journey!

One is starting at XLVets Northvet practice in Orkney and the other at XLVets Rosevean practice in Penzance.

The calves have to be on the XLVets stand at the 2009 Dairy Event, so the 42 XLVet member practices are getting on their bikes riding between practices, working together to get the calves safely to the show.

Along the way, the bike ride will be raising money for two farming charities.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) is a charity that supports members of the farming community facing need, hardship or distress.

The second charity, Farm Africa, is an international charity that provides training and support for poor rural communities to identify their needs and implement appropriate solutions to the key problems they face.

XLVet member practices will be cycling throughout August and during September, finishing with the arrival of the two calves at the Dairy Event and Livestock Show on Wednesday, September 16.  XLVets will be updating their website with pictures of the cyclists and the calves as they make their journeys.

Vets from the St Boniface practice thought they would do something extra special for the event so will be cycling 20 miles on a tandem bicycle from the Crediton practice to Exmouth, from there they plan to take the calf on the ferry to Sidmouth.

They then intend to walk 15 miles with the calf along the West Coast Path between Sidmouth and Lyme Regis.

Penbode Vets in Holsworthy will be delivering the calf to Crediton and the St Boniface team will be heading to Southfield Vets in Dorchester for the next leg of the journey.

If you spot the cyclists or calf please send your pictures to: [email protected]">[email protected] and then look at the website to see them on there. 

To make a donation either pledge support through your local XLVet member practice, St Boniface Vets, or visit the XLVets bike ride dedicated website: http://www.justgiving.com/xlvets">www.justgiving.com/xlvets .

You can contact St Boniface Vets on 01363 772860.