A WEST Bridgford man is challenging himself to cycle 50 miles at the Great Notts Bike Ride on June 23 in memory of his brother-in-law, who passed away after contracting a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.
This is the first year that John Lawton will ride the Great Notts Bike Ride.
He will be raising money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research after his sister, Helen Hill, lost her husband Matt to the disease last year.
He said: "I thought about doing the event many times because I had a few friends locally who take part every year. I always got the impression that it was a good day out and that it is well organised. Matt was a keen cyclist, so now there is a real incentive for me to take part."
Matt suffered from a very rare cancer of the blood, called T cell Acute Lymphoblastic Lymphoma ALL.
After initial treatment he went into remission, but the cancer returned and Matt passed away on the November 20 last year.
John said: "Matt was an active, healthy guy who ate well, didn't smoke and didn't drink a lot, and so I'm riding with my sister Helen and their two boys Luke and Jack. Matt was also really into his windsurfing so we are raising money for the RNLI as well."
John, Helen, Jack and Luke have chosen to cycle the 50 mile route, which will take them through some of Nottinghamshire's most picturesque countryside.
On the way they will pass through the Vale of Belvoir, Elton, Kilvington, Car Colston and East Bridgford, returning to the Victoria Embankment via Holme Pierrepont and the Riverside path, the ideal challenge for keen cyclists.
The Great Notts Bike Ride is part of Cycle Live, a three day festival of cycling taking place at Nottingham's Victoria Embankment from June 21 to 23.
If you would like raise money for your chosen charity by cycling the Great Notts Bike Ride, sign up at www.cyclelivenottingham.co.uk/sunday/.
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