FIVE fundraising cyclists set off from the region yesterday to help a cancer patient pay for a life-extending drug he cannot get on the NHS.

Dave Hill, 45, from Darlington, has been told that a revolutionary new drug called Tarceva is now his only hope after his cancer spread to both lungs.

But because it has been rejected by drugs watchdog the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, it is not available on the NHS in England.

Even though the drug is available in Scotland and much of Europe, the only way Mr Hill can get the treatment his NHS specialist says he needs is to go private.

Later this week Mr Hill, a father- of-four and stepfather of three, will travel to the Nuffield Hospital, in Newcastle, to see about paying more than £1,700 a month to get Tarceva privately.

Yesterday, he waved off the five cyclists as they set off on the 169- mile coast-to-coast route from Roker, Sunderland, to Whitehaven, in Cumbria, from outside The Golden Cock pub, in Darlington.

Mr Hill said: "It is fantastic what they are trying to do for me.

"I really want to thank them from the bottom of my heart."

Last week, South Tyneside Primary Care Trust agreed to pay for South Shields lung cancer patient Jimmy Jenkyns to have Tarceva for at least two months.

It came after Mr Jenkyns was able to show that going on Tarceva privately had helped slow the progress of his illness.

Pub landlord Geoff Marsh, 38, who is married to Mr Hill's niece, said he thought it was terrible that his friend was not able to get the drug.

David Ross, 42, who works at the Darlington engineering company Cummins, praised the company for allowing him and colleague Alan Jenk to have unpaid leave.

Mr Ross said: "It is shocking what is happening to Dave.

"If he lived in Scotland, he would get the treatment he needs."

Another rider, Stuart Burkin, 28, said: "I particularly feel for his six-year-old daughter, Chantelle."

The riders will cycle in relays, accompanied by a support vehicle decorated with images showing Chantelle's message - "Please help me to save my daddy".

A fundraising sporting raffle and entertainment night will be held at Darlington Football Club from 7.30pm on Sunday, October 7, for Mr Hill.

Tickets are £5, available from The Golden Cock pub.