DID you hear the one about the couple who decided to cycle from Saltash to Edinburgh, stopping off at a stand-up comedy gig every night of their journey?

Well, it’s certainly a laughing matter for David and Carole Chapple, who are tackling the epic journey – the punchline being the amount they manage to raise for the mental health charity Mind along the way.

But fund-raising challenges and comedy are nothing new to the Chapples, from Saltash.

David is already the Guinness World Record holder for the most shows seen in one year at the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Last year, he and Carole, who works at Liskeard School, raised more than £1,200 with a pub crawl that took in more than 70 hostelries across 500 miles of Cornish roads over one bank holiday weekend.

David said: ‘This year we have an even more ambitious plan, bearing in mind we are 55 and 57.

‘Starting on July 25, we will be spending 12 days relay cycling from Saltash to Edinburgh for Mind – 686 miles in total.

‘To tie in with our love of stand-up comedy, we will be spending each evening of the ride attending a comedy gig where we will also be collecting for the charity.’

They will be taking in performances by comedians including Rhod Gilbert and Jim Tavare.

As well as this, the Chapples will be putting on their own gig with three full Edinburgh Preview shows at The Watermark, Ivybridge, on Saturday, July 21.

Headlining will be their favourite comic, Tony Law, with Adam Larter and Helen Duff also featuring on the bill.

There is a website, step4mind.com, with the full route and details of the gigs which will be updated with progress.

Donations can be made via Just Giving at www.justgiving. com/fundraising/step4 mind