Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art's director Tom Butterfield will do just about anything to raise a buck, but he told Lifestyle reporter René Hill that his latest "Wheels of Fortune" tour will be his last ride.

This morning Tom Butterfield, Michael Hamer and Jay Nichols will begin another epic bike ride 1,000 miles from the South of France to the south west coast of England.

And this time, as well as money, the ride will also help to mark Bermuda's 400th anniversary.

The trio will set off from St. Remy to cycle to Lyme Regis, in Dorset, England, the birthplace of Sir George Somers. The town is also twinned with St. George's, as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

"Sir George set off for the new world from Plymouth on June 2, 1609, so we are appropriately going to finish the bike ride on June 2, but in his town."

St. Remy also has Bermudian connections as it is where Albert Gleizes, a French cubist painter who immortalised Bermuda in a painting on display in the museum's permanent collection, died.

Mr. Butterfield added: "This will be my last bike ride. Eight bike rides later, it is time for me to move on.

"While I love people's accolades, and I do mean this genuinely, that I am a great fundraiser, but privately or quietly, it is really very difficult to pick up the phone and say are you there for a pledge."

As well as the bike rides Mr. Butterfield raises money through running marathons. He has done five London marathons and one in New York.

He estimates that altogether with the bike rides and marathons he has raised $1.7 million, though says that might be an under-estimate.

Relaxing in Masterwork's Reading Room and Library, Mr. Butterfield said the whole fund raising idea was born out of a democratic process.

"I wanted people to attach themselves to Masterworks and I didn't want them to feel uncomfortable," he said.

"So during the first marathon, people said that they would give me a nickel or a dime a mile, and $2.50 for running 25 miles.

"But at least it got people to catch and they weren't afraid to be a part of it, it was not a big commitment. Since then the commitments have been larger, maybe people are probably thinking, 'there he goes again, he's getting older and frailer, his teeth are falling out. When will this guy stop'?

"So rather than have that happen, I am going to stop it at 61. I think there are other ways of raising funds and I think we need to look at something new."

Of his riding buddies, he said: "The trio, Jay, Michael and myself will have a reception at the Guild Hall with the Mayor of Lyme Regis. We'll be gussied up in some pilgrim's outfits and maybe we'll do a little bike round around town. You might as well end it with a little bit of fun. But I am really grateful for the support over the years, because it has really been phenomenal.

"And maybe the support is here, even though there is a reality of a recession, but I think that museums become even more important, because it is free for anyone who has a membership.

"Otherwise it is a nominal $5 to get in."

A year after the Masterwork's Museum of Bermuda Art opened its doors with the extension and remodel, Mr. Butterfield said: "I think the Museum is working. The place is up and running and it looks great.

"We are blessed with a very dedicated team in the office and we are all sort of feeling our way through."

On today's bike ride, he said: "Given that this is ride number eight, it does represent 8,000 miles under pedal as well as all the training. But the bottom line is that we've had some very good luck and I can think of two days only where it didn't even make sense to wear a raincoat, as it was raining so hard. In one case, everything went straight into the dryer. We've had rainy days, but nothing like that."

On average, the trio aim to complete between 75 and 100 miles each day.

"You've got to work out an average of 75 per day, but if you are down to 60 then you have to make it up 80 on the other side, otherwise you'll be out there for a month and we want it done in 12 days.

"You divide 12 into a 1,000 and work out what your average is. And as we are doing most of our pedalling in France, we converted kilometres than miles."

Many may have spotted Mr. Butterfield and friends tackling hills in the east end.

"I have been practising after work and I have been tackling Knapton Hill, which I think is a tough one.

"I think I am ready more now then I was two years ago, because last time I had a major operation on my shoulder, but those are the kinds of things that are behind me and I'm ready to go."

He added: "This really has to be the last ride, as the most difficult call was the first one done and then I could make the second one and then I got rolling and rolling."