FORMER Old Vic landlord David Young is revving up to raise cash for Brighter Futures after being treated for throat cancer.

He will be taking a 25-year-old motorbike on a sponsored ride through Europe later this year to Cyprus where he will sell it to boost his fundraising total even more.

“This will be an adventure and I intend to fully enjoy the experience, going wherever the wind takes me,” he told the Advertiser.

The 56-year-old from Old Walcot, left the pub five years ago and now spends his time gigging as a musician and DJ.

But one of his life-long ambitions has been to do a motorcycle tour. So in September, he is due to set off on an epic ride of several thousand miles, taking in countries like Hollands, Belgium, France, Turkey and even the Baltic states if it takes his fancy.

Just over two years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and faced the daily journey to the Churchill Hospital in Oxford for radiotherapy.

Luckily he had a motorhome and the hospital authorities agreed to find him a spot where he could park and stay during the week with his wife Anna.

“The treatment and care we received was first class and helped us through a very difficult time.” But he said: “Whilst there we noticed endless streams of Swindon taxis ferrying cancer patients from Swindon, a trip I’m sure they could do without, knowing how ill it can make you feel.”

Now he is in remission, but the experience inspired him to do something for the £2.9m appeal, which will bring radiotherapy treatment to the Great Western Hospital.

“I have always dreamed of doing a motorcycle tour but now I have the opportunity to try and make a difference by doing one,” he said.

“If Swindon gets a Rehabilitation Unit it will make a huge difference for people suffering here.”

So he scoured eBay and found himself a trust steed for the journey - a 1992 Yamaha FJ1200 machine. At the end of the trip they will part company because he plans to sell it to raise even more for the appeal.

He is planning to set off on September 16, using the Channel Tunnel to get to the continent. But after that his route and his timetable is flexible.

David, who plays with The Chaos Brothers, will also be raising money with gigs around the town before he goes.

The Brighter Futures radiotherapy appeal, which currently stands at £2.2m, is to provide clinical equipment for a new treatment unit at the GWH, meaning patients will no longer have to make the 70-mile round trip to Oxford.

It will be a satellite of the cancer and haematology centre at the Churchill.

Anyone wanting to donate towards David’s fundraiser can visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/road-to-recovery-swindon-to-cyprus.