A DAD-of-two has taken on a gruelling challenge to give back to a charity which helped his wife while she was battling cancer.

Greg Townson, who is a personal trainer at FEVO Gym, in Picket Piece, decided to complete a 24-hour bike ride on August 11 for Cancer Research UK.

The former soldier came up with the idea after his wife Aly began her recovery from breast cancer at the end of June this year.

Aly was diagnosed last year when she was studying nursing at Bournemouth University and began watching TV programmes to help with her course.

“One of the programmes was about feeling yourself for lumps and Aly realised she had a lump so went to the doctors and then to the hospital for scans and within seconds they could tell what it was,” said Greg.

Aly had to undergo radiotherapy, surgery and is now awaiting reconstructive therapy, all of which has taken its toll on the family.

“We have got two young kids and we almost tried to carry on as normal as possible. She shaved off her own hair before it fell out and got the kids involved and we had a lot of support.

“And I always said that once she was out the other side, I would do something for all the help and support Cancer Research does.”

Greg, dad to Michael, five, and Bradley, two, chose to sit and pedal on a bike for 24 hours straight while he was joined by volunteers on another bike for one hour at a time.

“I sat on one for 24 hours and didn’t get off and then I had people coming in throughout the day, so we had people in at two and three in the morning.

“It was nice to have that support as I wasn’t expecting it and then a crowd of people turned up and the gym was still packed at the end.”

In total Greg cycled 253 miles and burnt 7,000 calories to raise around £2,300 for the charity.

“It has really brought the whole community together. And Aly was proud of me, we both had a little cry as she was quite taken aback as to how many people donated and supported.”