AN OSWALDTWISTLE man has completed a 1,000-mile bike ride in memory of his mother who died a year ago from bowel cancer.

Leigh Thistlethwaite started out on his mammoth bike ride from John O'Groats to Lands End on Saturday, September 18, the first anniversary of his mother’s death.

Denise Taylor, of Meadow Way, Accrington, died from the disease in September 2009 after it first developed nine years ago.

Leigh started the trip, which he described as ‘the greatest challenges of his life’ alongside his brother-in-law Mark Smith, 25.

But unfortunately, 450 miles into the journey Mark suffered from a hamstring injury and was forced to finish the challenge early.

Electrician Leigh and painter and decorator Mark had taken time off work to complete the two-week ride, during which they cycled over 80 miles a day.

Dad-of-three Leigh, from Fountain's Way, Oswaldtwistle, said: “The hardest part was after Mark had to drop out, it was tough just to get out of bed every morning an keep motivated.”

The pair hoped to raised more than £3,000 for East Lancashire Hospice.

Denise originally thought she had defeated the disease and went into remission, but around Chris-tmas time 2008 doctors told her the cancer had returned.

However, with her son's wedding on the horizon, she decided to battle her illness in private in case it affected her family.

It wasn’t until after Leigh's wedding to Sarah that the 42-year-old moved into East Lancashire Hospice, in Park Lee Road, Blackburn, where she spent the last few weeks of her life.