A DETERMINED cyclist is to bike his way from John O'Groats to Land's End - despite undergoing treatment for cancer.

John Drury, of Medway Crescent, Leigh, was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease in 1999, just two years before he completed the challenge for the first time and raised £28,000 for charity.

Now he hopes to complete the bike ride again with a team called the "fat boys in lycra" to raise money for Havens Hospices.

He said: "I was already training to do the ride before I was diagnosed.

"It was while training that I lost weight and saw a lump on my neck which turned out to be a tumour.

"Working out for an event to raise money for the charity may have saved my life. We had to postpone the challenge whilst I underwent chemotherapy and stem-cell treatment."

Following the ride Mr Drury, 44, was clear of cancer for one year until 2002 it returned.

He said: "It's growing slowly. I try and forget about it and don't let it affect day-to-day stuff. Now I'm focusing all my energies on this next bike ride."

The team will have to take on 100 miles a day for ten days after they set off on Saturday September 8. To sponsor the team visit www.justgiving.com/fatboys inlycra