A Watford man is part of a team set to cycle from the north to the south of France to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Mark Beesley and the four other team members will begin their seven-day cycle on June 10, having already garnered £1,817 of their £2,000 target.

Mr Beesley, a married father of two, said: “We chose the charity because we have all lost someone close to cancer or know someone who is going through it right now.”

Watford Observer: Three of the team members training ahead of the ride that will raise money for Cancer Research UK. Three of the team members training ahead of the ride that will raise money for Cancer Research UK. (Image: Mark Beesley)

Five years ago, the sales manager’s father-in-law died from prostate cancer.

Mr Beesley, 56, said: “We have been lucky and not had many deaths in the family, so it was quite a shock when he died. He was not a young man, but he had plenty of years left in him.

Watford Observer: The route the team will be taking when in France.The route the team will be taking when in France. (Image: Google Maps)

“And I am at that age now where I have gone and had a health check at the doctors. You want to catch these things early.”

Mr Beesley also lost his grandfather to lung cancer.

“When someone has cancer, you feel helpless, it’s like a ticking time bomb,” he added.

France was chosen as a destination because team leader Rob Laughton’s mother-in-law, who died from cancer, is French.

Watford Observer: The team has been training together for 10 years.The team has been training together for 10 years. (Image: Mark Beesley)

Having previously raised money for charity in 2021 by doing a round cycling trip starting and finish at Inverness in Scotland, the team felt France might be slightly better for weather this time round.

The team members have taken part in several extreme sports for charity and have been training together for nearly 10 years.

When they get back they will be taking part in a marathon round the Lake District.

Mr Beesley said: “It is a team effort. When we are riding, we all share the work and put in a lot of work.

“We will burn off 5,000 calories per day just through cycling so we will be eating a lot.”

Donations can be made via https://bit.ly/43C3HAg.

Watford Observer: The team have raised money to help motor neurone disease in the past.The team have raised money to help motor neurone disease in the past. (Image: Mark Beesley)

Training for June’s cycle ride hasn’t come without its difficulties.

Mr Beesley said: “There are always a few lows especially when doing something this early in the cycling season.

“We have had a long, cold and wet winter and it has been a challenge to get out every day from January to March to get the miles in.”

He hopes the money raised can be used to stopping cancer or at least slowing it down “which is why cancer research is really important”.