AN 80-year-old grandfather is cycling the length of the country to raise cash for a charity which provided his ill grandson with a once-in-a-life-time trip.

When Denis Hedges’ 13-year-old grandson, Tom Hyde, was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer all his family went through a very hard time.

Tom had to travel to Oxford for treatment for non-Hodgkin lymphoma – a type of cancer that affects a person’s immune system.

But the charity Make A Wish stepped in and offered Tom a chance to swim with dolphins in Florida.

Make-A-Wish Foundation UK aims to grant magical wishes to children and young people fighting life-threatening conditions.

Tom, now 15, is in recovery and Denis says said he wants to cycle the 830 miles between Land’s End and John O’Groats to raise money and awareness of the charity that proved so valuable his family during their difficult time .

“Our family thought this would be a good way of saying thank you and a chance to raise funds for such a worthy cause,” said Denis, of Old Town.

“It was very rough for everyone. My daughter said lots of charities helped Tom but this one stood out.”

Tom’s parents’ Jonathan and Tracy Hyde were also whisked away to America with Make A Wish paying for everyone’s accommodation.

Denis plans to ride for eight hours a day on his trek which will begin on September 7. He has been a keen cyclist all his life and used to cycle to Nottingham and back in one day.

He said he is expecting the challenge to take about ten days. He will be sleeping at bed and breakfasts.

“It’s going to be a challenge,” he said “More recently I have only been cycling short distances.”

So far he has collected about £510. To support him visit www.justgiving.com/denishedges.