A young mum of two who lost her partner to a brain tumour has won a national competition to take part in a cycle challenge in southern India.

Emma Barclay, 25, from Leavesden, will jet out to Kerala in March to take part in the 187 mile ride.

She will join TV presenter Denise Van Outen and a host of other celebrities for The Nicki Waterman Kerala Cycling Challenge.

Emma said: “When I got the call to say I was going to Kerala it was the first time I had felt genuinely happy since Adam died.

READ MORE: Adam Barclay who died after brain tumour battle to be remembered at fundraiser

"I know that he would be really proud that I’m doing the best I can with the hand I have been dealt.

“Adam’s symptoms were initially dismissed as nothing serious and when his tumour was eventually diagnosed it was too late. He went into surgery and never woke up.

The event is in memory of Nicki, celebrity personal trainer and The Sun fitness expert who died last summer at the age of 53, 15 months after being diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour.

It is being organised by Nicki’s daughter Alex Thrussell along with her friend Denise. Both will ride alongside Emma as part of the 20-strong team raising funds for Brain Tumour Research.

Emma’s fiancé Adam, 27, died on New Year’s Day 2016 just three months before they were due to marry.

READ MORE: 'I feel immensely emotional for all of us to have done this walk together remembering Adam'

The couple have two children together, Lola who is now five, and Parker, aged one. Emma was nominated to take part by Adam’s mum Wendy Barclay, 55, of Bricket Wood, after she read about Nicki and the challenge in The Sun on Sunday.

Last March Emma and Adam should have been getting married, instead she changed her surname from maiden name Jolly to Barclay and made her son’s middle name Adam.

This year she will be flying to India for a new adventure.

“I know it’s going to be tough mentally as well as physically,” she said. “I am training as much as I can and although I know the heat will make the miles seem longer, I will be thinking of Adam and why I am doing this.”

"I am determined to continue to raise awareness in order to stop this happening to other people.”

Emma has already raised nearly £1,500 for Brain Tumour Research with a black tie ball and a sponsored abseil.

Brain Tumour Research is campaigning to see the national spend on brain tumour research increased to £30 - £35 million a year, in line with breast and leukaemia, in order to advance treatments, and ultimately find a cure.

To make a donation go to Emma’s Kerala Challenge go to: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/NickiWatermanKeralaChallenge