THE father of a 15-month-old girl who died from a rare brain tumour is taking part in a 1,000-mile bike ride in her memory.

Mikey Cecil, from North End Road, Fulham, aims to complete a two-week tour of all the places Isla visited in the UK, accompanied at different stages by a total of 100 supporters.

He and his wife, Anna, are raising money for the Isla Cecil Brighter Future Fund for Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Isla died in November last year.

Mr Cecil set off from Cornwall on Monday last week and will finish on Monday at Windsor Racecourse, where an auction and private dinner for 300 people has been arranged. A race will also take place for Isla in which jockeys will wear wristbands carrying the funds name.

Speaking about the bike ride so far, Mr Cecil, a property investment manager, said: "Its exhausting, I cant move for the first hour of the morning. But its amazing, wherever we go people give us money."

Previous fundraising events include a fete in Wandsworth organised by Mr Cecils sister, which raised s6,000, and a day at the Del Aziz restaurant in Fulham Broadway, which the Cecils frequently visited with Isla, during which 10 per cent of profits were donated to the fund.

The couple have already raised s215,000 through the ride and other events, for a consortium led by the hospital, which aims improve the treatment of high-risk brain tumours in children.

Isla died on November 7 last year, having being diagnosed only a month earlier with embryonal tumour with abundant neuropil and true rosettes, an aggressive brain cancer. Her parents were told it was inoperable because of Islas age and its location, as it had spread to her spine.

Mr Cecil said: We feel it is unacceptable in this day and age that there was no hope, and therefore we are eager to support the hospital in setting up this new consortium as soon as possible."

Mrs Cecil added: "While we cannot bring back our beautiful little girl, we hope the research will give other families in our situation hope in the future."

Visit www.islasbrighterfuture.com to donate or for more information on the campaign.