A DARWEN man is preparing for a mammoth cycling journey in a bid to beat blood cancer.

Alex Buckland, from the Whitehall area, will cycle 960 miles from John O’Groat’s to Land’s End, ‘JOGLE’, to raise money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research.

The inspiration behind the 25-year-old’s mission is Alex’s Staffordshire University friend, Matt Beeson, 27, of Stoke, who was diagnosed with Hepatosplenic Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of the disease, in March.

Alex, a freelance web developer, said: “I’ve been riding bikes since my grandma taught me at the age of five when I went out with no stabilisers, and I’ve been falling off ever since.

“When my friend Matt was diagnosed with cancer there was really only one thing I could do to help, and that’s ride my bike.”

Alex is planning on cycling the route on a single-speed bike over 13 days, meaning he has to complete 75 miles a day.

The bike will be trailed by a support car carrying all the food Alex will need – around 6,000 calories per day. He is currently training by cycling 200 miles per week, plus three hours per week in the gym and core exercises including 300 sit-ups.

The former Queens Park High School pupil said: “I need to have incredible leg strength and endurance since I've only got one gear to take me over the mountains of Scotland, Lake District and the hills around Dartmoor and the south.

“My toughest ride in preparation will have been doing 100 miles and 14,000 feet of climbing – a half ascent of Mount Everest!”

Matt is currently having chemotherapy treatment and will have a bone marrow transplant on July 11.

Alex is being sponsored by UK hotel group Legacy Hotels and Resorts, which will be putting him up on his journey across the country. They are also sponsoring him £1,000.

Baisoara Cycle Ride from Alex Buckland on Vimeo.

Alex sets off on his JOGLE on June 12 next year. To find out more, visit the website below.