A WESTBURY woman who was successfully cured of cancer is aiming to raise £1,500 for charity by cycling 250 miles in 24 hours.

Nicki Wills, 51, of Slag Lane, plans to cycle up to Worcestershire and back down in less than one day with her partner, Jon.

The food tech teacher from Stonar School is going to complete the challenge in honour of her dad, who died of cancer last year, and to raise money for Turn2Us, a charity which supported her after she was diagnosed, by giving her a grant when she was unable to work.

Miss Will's dad cycled 250 miles in a 12-hour time trial in 1961.

Miss Wills said: “It’s going to be very emotional for me. The more I train, the more I realise just how amazing my dad's achievement was all those years ago, especially as he was on an old-fashioned bike.

“Before he died, my dad gave a trophy to me he had won in a cycling race, and it inspired me to complete the same ride that he did all those years ago.

"He was amazed when I told him that I planned to ride the same number of miles that he did, partly because I took up cycling quite late in life.

"It's a shame dad won't be there to see me do it, but my mum is coming over from South Africa to support me, along with two of my friends, which will be really nice.

"Jon and I have been training lots and after a few long challenges, including 250km in France, I'm feeling confident that we'll do it.

"We met at a cycling club which, coincidentally, is the same place my mum and dad first met. He's a great cyclist and has been really supportive through everything over the past year."

Miss Wills and Jon, supported by her mum and two friends, will set off for Worcestershire on the evening of July 9 and will begin the return journey in the morning, with the aim of getting back to Westbury on Sunday evening.

Miss Wills can be supported through Just Giving: www.justgiving.com/Nicki-Wills and to find out more about Turn2us, visit: turn2us.org.uk.