Meet Riley - a lively 8 year old boy from our village.

Unfortunately, Riley's childhood hasn't worked out as you would hope.

At the age of three, he was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma - an aggressive and highly malignant form of cancer. Riley spent many months in hospital undergoing intensive treatment, and missed the first two years of his education as he wasn't well enough to go to school. Although very young, he is a proper fighter, determined to beat his illness.

In March 2018 he was given the all clear.

Finally, a chance for a normal childhood - playing football, and going to school - he and his Mum becoming regulars at the village school gates where my own kids go.

A personal memory of Riley was at the local pub earlier this year when we went out for a family meal. Riley came over to chat to us; I was struck by his confidence and friendliness, and have remembered it clearly ever since.

However - in September this year, Riley began to feel poorly again. He said that his monkey, which is how he refers to his cancer, was back. He had a scan and the dreadful news was confirmed, he had a ten centimetre tumour in his stomach. Further tests revealed that the cancer had spread to some of his bones.

Although Riley has had chemotherapy, and is waiting to find out if the chemotherapy is doing it’s job...the hospital have told his family that he cannot cope with continued high doses of this treatment.

Riley's Mum has discovered that in Seattle, U.S.A. there is a research facility that are researching into remission incidences of this type of cancer and that they have had some success with children like Riley.

There are huge costs involved with this - travel, accommodation and the treatment itself - that are well beyond the means of any family.

No child deserves to be robbed of their childhood by such a cruel disease, and I - like many others from our village - am determined to do whatever I can to give Riley a chance.

Our village, despite being small, has a thriving community of mountain bikers (of which I am one), runners and road cyclists. The three groups are joining forces on Sunday 8th December to do sponsored rides and runs at the same time.

I will be one of several mountain bike riders aiming to complete a challenging 5 hour off-road ride. Bear in mind I live on the edge of the Peak District (no flat routes here!) and I will do this in whatever weather & ground conditions December throws at us on the day - it will be a tough, cold, muddy ride.

PLEASE sponsor me, and give whatever you can to help little Riley beat cancer and get his childhood back.

Any money I raise will be donated to the family for them to use as they see fit - whether that be towards travel, treatment etc, or simply to give Riley a well deserved treat.