A director at the Royal Marsden Hospital is about to lead a new £50,000 fundraising drive – from the saddle of his motorcycle.

Dr Colin Rickard will be travelling 2,000 miles across France with five other bikers who have links to the Belmont cancer centre.

The group, accompanied by a back-up team for the week-long trip, will follow the route of the inaugural 1903 Tour de France.

Dr Rickard, director of projects at the hospital, has previously completed charity rides around Europe and New Zealand.

He said: “It is good to challenge yourself, as it keeps you motivated and it important to have different experiences.

“I am going to be with a great team of experienced riders whose intentions are to raise as much money as possible. I have worked at the Marsden for 15 years, and know how much great work is done here, so it seems right that I should be raising money for the hospital’s Cancer Campaign charity.”