A WEST Devon man is setting off on a mammoth challenge today (Thursday) to cycle 1,000 miles in a bid to raise as much money as possible for Cancer Research UK in memory of his mother.

Robin Crowther-Smith from Chagford, and his friend, Paddy Gouge, are cycling from Bristol to Barcelona to raise money for the charity, following the recent death of Robin's mother, Alice.

Robin, 24, said his mother had lung cancer: 'I couldn't breathe as I was told that there could be no curing mum's cancer and my world was flipped upside down.

'I moved home to take care of her while she underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy at Exeter Hospital, both of which took an incredible toll on her.

'The situation was made easier by the support of mum's many friends and our large family. She fought incredibly bravely and never complained.'

Alice managed to see her eldest son, Christian, get married. Robin said: 'Christian is the first of us to get married so it was especially important for mum to be there.

'The family rallied around and with the help of the hospital staff we managed to organise a private ambulance and staff for the weekend to take care of mum in the hotel, but it was a massive undertaking and the doctors told us it could kill her.

'With mum's resolve, we got her there and the night before the wedding she sat up in bed as the family came to see her and she talked and smiled with everyone.'

Robin said his mum was able to see some of the wedding before having to go back to her bed. 'That night mum deteriorated fast. We knew that there was little time left so we took her home the next night and she was surrounded by us all. She died the next morning.

'Mum was an amazing person and I miss her so much already. That is why I'm doing this challenge for Cancer Research UK, because I don't want people to have to go through what we did and lose a very special human being for so many people.'

Sylvia Arlett, area manager for Cancer Research UK, said: 'We are indebted to people like Robin and Paddy who raise funds voluntarily for Cancer Research UK, which in turn allows our scientists to carry out groundbreaking research.'

To support Robin and Paddy on their charity adventure visit http://www.justgiving.co.uk/robinandpaddy">www.justgiving.co.uk/robinandpaddy