A cancer patient who rode 40 miles two weeks before the Two Wheels for Woodlands event has raised more than £460.

Rodney Hooker, 70, was due to take part on Sunday but because of his worsening condition he cycled from the Chinese Bridge, in Godmanchester, to Cambridge and back – the distance he would have rode in the Two Wheels short route.

Mr Hooker, who has advanced prostate cancer, was joined by his daughter Cheryl and son Darren on June 15 – Father’s Day – for the ride.

“Cheryl was using a bike that was her late mother Joan’s, who passed away from cancer on October 1 last year,” said Mr Hooker, of The Close, Godmanchester.

“It was a great way to spend Father’s Day with both my kids. We set off from Chinese Bridge at 10am where a couple of friends saw us off. We headed down Cow Lane to St Ives through the Hemingfords.”

The trio cycled along the guided busway cycle path to Cambridge and added a couple of miles to their journey with a visit to Tesco, in Milton, before returning.

Mr Hooker said: “We headed back about 1pm and picked up the route at the Science Park.

“Beatrice, of Hospice at Home, along with Paul, her husband, were at Swavesey to cheer us on.

“We did not break any records, but it was as near to 38 miles in total.

“The winner was, of course, the Woodlands Cancer Centre, to whom I owe so much.”