A PROJECT accountant for the NHS is taking part in a 220-mile cycle ride to raise money to go towards new cancer treatment centres.

Steve Last, from Myland in Colchester, works at the University College London Hospital, where he has organised, along with 30 staff, to take complete the cycle ride from Manchester's Christie Hospital to London's UCLH in two days.

The team are aiming to raise at least £10,000 toward new Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) centres in both Manchester and London, which will provide the very latest equipment to help treat patients combining the expertise of cancer specialists from the two hospitals.

They will receive plenty of help along the way with the Territorial Army donating food and accommodation and OTE Sports Nutrition and Cycle Republic also helping out.

Dr Ed Smith, clinical lead for PBT at The Christie said: “We want to provide social and other activities for patients and families, making their stay less stressful and their experience of treatment more tolerable.

"Being away from your family and friends isn't easy when you're being treated for cancer, by providing these services we hope to make it that little bit easier. Thank you for your support.”

Mr Last said: “I am really delighted that we have over 30 people from both centres taking up this challenging bike ride and raising money for PBT.

"My friend’s son had PBT in Oklahoma, USA as part of the NHS overseas treatment programme.

"Every penny we raise will help kids like him get the very best care here in the UK.”

Patients who currently require PBT have to travel abroad for long periods of time as the state-of-the-art treatment is not available in the UK.

The proton beam therapy centres are currently under construction, with The Christie due to complete in 2018 and UCLH in 2019, when complete they will each treat up to 750 patients every year.

So far the team has raised nearly £5,000, to donate visit: www.justgiving.com/teams/Cycle-o-Tron

www.justgiving.com/ManchestertoLondonPBTRide2016.