A CYCLIST is preparing to ride across the country in a single day for charity.

Doug Winham, from County Durham, plans to start the 135-mile ride at Workington, on the Cumbrian coast, early on Sunday.

The father-of-two hopes to complete his leg weary exertions at Roker Pier, in Sunderland, that evening.

His tough personal challenge has won the support of many backers, and should raise around £7,000 for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation cancer support charity.

Mr Winham, a company director from Langley Moor, near Durham, who is in the final throes of training, said: "The nerves are starting to kick in a bit now.

"There has been quite a bit of rain forecast and I hope it is not too windy.

"But, people have been so supportive. It’s been unbelievable.

"I just hope I don’t let anyone down."

He has been training since December for the marathon effort and has regularly covered around 200 miles per week, in preparation.

Mr Winham said he felt moved to help North-East cancer sufferers after losing his mother-in-law, Janet Richardson, to the disease.

"It hit us like a brick wall because she died only four or five months after she was diagnosed."

The foundation has raised more than £1.2m to help victims and opened a new dedicated treatment centre in Newcastle since its launch last year.

Mr Winham said: "While her mother was being treated, my wife would occasionally see Sir Bobby there.

"It was her idea to raise money for his foundation because it means it will stay in the North-East.

"Raising this money has been great because he’s a fantastic person and it will go to help people in this area.

"I wanted to be able to give something back."

Sir Bobby, the former Newcastle and England football manager, who, lives near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, is battling cancer for the fifth time.

His charity is funding two specialist cancer research posts who are working to find more effective ways of treating the disease.

Pauline Buglass, fundraising manager for The Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, said: "Doug must be very fit to be attempting this fundraising challenge.

"I hope when Doug gets home he has a very comfortable cushion to sit on after cycling all that way.

"It's a magnificent effort on his part to raise money for Sir Bobby's charity and we wish him the very best of luck."

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