Ashes hero Michael Vaughan swaps the sequins for a saddle as he launches cycle ride strictly for charity

Ashes winning captain Michael Vaughan is replacing his Strictly Come Dancing costume with lycra cycle shorts later this year as he undertakes a UK-wide bike ride to raise funds for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation and the Cricket Foundation's Chance to Shine initiative.

Laureus Ambassador Vaughan, who famously inspired England to their memorable 2005 Ashes victory, announced today that he will be leading a team of charity fund-raisers on a 12-day tour of England cricket grounds to coincide with the One Day International series against Australia from September 6.

Starting with the first One Day International at Headingley in Leeds, Vaughan's peloton will route via Old Trafford in Manchester, Edgbaston in Birmingham, the Swalec Stadium in Cardiff and the Aegeas Bowl in Southampton before finishing in London.

Vaughan, who showed an entirely different side of his character as he reached the ninth week of popular TV show Strictly Come Dancing to national acclaim, said: "I loved taking part in Strictly. It was terrific fun and incredibly hard work. This is going to be a seriously different challenge, but I am really looking forward to it. I'll be cycling 462 miles over the 12 days and that is not going to be easy, but these are two really good causes."

"For more than a decade Laureus has been using sport as the means to help improve the lives of young people and it now reaches 34 countries. Since it started, Laureus has helped more than one-and-a-half million kids and supports around 140 sports-based community projects around the world."

"Chance to Shine is keeping cricket alive in schools. Over the past seven years it has brought competitive cricket and its educational benefits to nearly two million young people in thousands of state schools."

Michael Vaughan launched his cycle ride at Lord's, the Home of Cricket, where he was supported by current England women's cricket stars Lydia Greenway and Susie Rowe. Also there were children from Chance to Shine projects in London who joined the former England captain for a coaching session at the MCC Cricket Academy.

Stage 1:

Friday 6th September: Headingley, Leeds to Old Trafford, Manchester (80 miles)

Monday 9th September: 2 cricket matches/1 day cycling 1 day National Cycling Centre Experience, incl. Velodrome, BMX, Mountain Bike and Watt Bike taster sessions

Stage 2:

Old Trafford, Manchester to Edgbaston, Birmingham (90 miles) Monday 9th

Wednesday 11th September: 1 day National Cycling Centre Experience, incl. incl. Velodrome, BMX, Mountain Bike and Watt Bike taster sessions. 1 day cycling, incl. Time Trial Speed Challenge 1 cricket match

Stage 3:

Edgbaston, Birmingham to SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff (86 miles + 55 miles)

Thursday 12th and Saturday 14th September: 2 days cycling, incl. Hill Climb Challenge. 1 cricket match

Stage 4:

SWALEC Stadium, Cardiff to Ageas Bowl, Southampton (80 miles) to London Finale (70 miles)

Sunday 15th and Tuesday 17th September: 2 days cycling, incl. Night Rider Challenge. 1 cricket match

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Chance to Shine is an independent charity that works to spread the power of cricket in schools and communities across the country. Set up as the Cricket Foundation, the charity aims to provide opportunities in state schools and deprived communities.