WHILE the racers in the Tour de France are taking a breather after their efforts, a Suffolk cyclist is on his own two-wheeled epic to raise money for a cancer support charity.

WHILE the racers in the Tour de France are taking a breather after their efforts, a Suffolk cyclist is on his own two-wheeled epic to raise money for a cancer support charity.

John Terrell, a tree surgeon from Hollesley, near Woodbridge, set off on Monday on a 1,000 mile solo trip to Poland which will take him through France, Belgium, Germany and the Czech Republic.

He decided to make the grand tour, which he hopes to complete in around ten days, to aid the Macmillan Cancer Support charity. Macmillan helped John's brother Gary during his terminal illness two years ago.

“It's not until these things happen to you or a loved one that you realise what a good job they do,” said John. “It's just nice to give something back.”

The trip has been some weeks in the planning, though John is travelling with a tent in case he can't find accommodation on his journey.

John is an experienced rider who is well-known in East Anglian cycling circles. He is a regular competitor in the East Anglian Daily Times' cyclocross league and is a member of Ipswich Bicycle Club.

He is hoping to raise around �1,000 and anyone wishing to support John can go to www.justgiving.com/John-Terrell