Wheels are in motion (From Penarth Times)

Wheels are in motion

A STUDENT has set off on a mammoth 2,580-mile cycle ride to raise money for his sister's lifesaving cancer treatment.

And the cycle route will bring him to Penarth later this month.

Dave Boorman, 22, began his solo ride all the way round the coast of Britain on July 16.

Starting in Essex, in his home town of Southend-on-Sea, Dave, who studies maths at Leeds University, aims to visit every seaside town in the UK in less than 60 days.

And in the process he hopes to raise the 15,000 needed for his elder sister, Letitia East's, treatment.

Letitia, 33, known as Tish, was diagnosed with cancer of the liver two years ago.

The cancer spread to her bowel and stomach, and, although the mother of eight-year-old twins has had chemotherapy for 18 months and two operations on her liver, there is nothing more the NHS can do to cure the cancer.

"The NHS have been wonderful in helping her this far," said Dave.

"But sadly she has come to the point where they can do no more to stop it spreading."

The family's only hope for Tish exists in the form of a 15,000 treatment from the Stanford Medical Centre in the USA.

Dave explained: "To take positive action, I decided to carry out a sponsored cycle ride all the way around the coast of mainland Britain, in the hope I can raise enough money to pay for treatment."

Dave expects to arrive in Penarth on approximately day 36 of his journey - Saturday, August 20.

He has two requests - donations and the offer of a place to stay.