Accountancy firm Baker Tilly, which has an office in Southampton, is gearing up to launch its national charity bike ride for the second year running.

The Tour de Baker Tilly, which was hugely successful in its inaugural year, is back this summer by popular demand and promises a new route and an even bigger fundraising target of £25,000.

The two week cycling event, which runs from June 25 to July 9involves staff from Baker Tilly’s offices across the UK, together with clients and business contacts and is being held to raise money for the firms supported national charities, Anthony Nolan and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

This year’s route will start at the firms Glasgow office and run South, ending in Southampton on July 8 and culminating in a ‘Sportive Day’ at Foxhills Country Club in Surrey.

Covering a total of over 700 miles and stopping at 18 Baker Tilly offices on the way, each day around 50 riders will complete up to 80 miles.

Last year’s event saw around 300 staff and guests take part, and raised more than £20,000.

John Taylor, Managing Partner at Baker Tilly’s Southampton office said: "The valuable work that Anthony Nolan and The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award carry out has changed the lives of so many people, and I am delighted that we are able to show our support for them again this year through the Tour de Baker Tilly bike ride.

"I look forward to seeing our staff and guests finish the tour in Southampton this year."

 Laura Parsell, Senior Fundraising Manager at Anthony Nolan said: "We’re delighted to be a beneficiary charity of the 2nd Tour de Baker Tilly cycle ride.

"It’s a fantastic challenge and we’re so grateful to everyone that has signed up to raise funds for Anthony Nolan.

"The money raised from Tour de Baker Tilly will enable us to recruit more donors to our register and give more people with blood cancer the chance of life."