A charity campaigner who has battled against pancreatic cancer is cycling from Harrow to Krakow, in Poland, to raise awareness about the deadly disease.

Les Niewiara, 48, of Cunningham Park, Harrow, will get on his bike this month and peddle 950 miles to the Polish city, raising money for the charity, Pancreatic Cancer UK.

The father-of-two was diagnosed with the disease in 2004 and re-diagnosed last year.

But following surgery and chemotherapy, he is now hoping he can make a difference and is urging more people to get on their bikes to raise money for charity.

He said: "Just over four years ago I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I had to have surgery and six months of chemotherapy. Everything seemed like it was getting better but I was diagnosed again last year. I am recovering now but I want to highlight the appalling survival rates associated with pancreatic cancer and to raise money which could help improve vital research."

Les will be joined on his travels by his friends Trace Allen, a pancreatic cancer survivor, David Smithson, Simon Gledhill and his niece Jordanna Pitchford.

The first stage of the journey will begin at Les's Harrow home and it will take 90 minutes to cycle to Harwich. The riders will then disappear on the overnight ferry to Holland before tackling the continental stretch taking them through Germany and into Poland.

The team is expected to reach Krakow in 13 days and a tracking device will be connected to Les so people can log on to the official website and see where he is.

Les said: "It has been hard training but we are really looking forward to it. It is a distance I have never done before so this will be a real challenge. Trace, who is 64, was diagnosed after me and like me believes in setting ambitious goals as part of the recovery process. He has also represented Great Britain for the over 60s age group at the World Triathlon Championships."

Less than three per cent of pancreatic cancer sufferers survive more than five years. This means that of the 7,000 people diagnosed in 2003, there will be less than 200 alive at the end of this year.

Les will also be organising other cycling events throughout the year, with the aim of clocking up a total number of miles which would be the equivalent of cycling around the world.

To find out more about Bike to the Future 2008, go online and visit www.biketothefuture.org.uk and you can also sponsor the cyclists online at www.justgiving.com/biketothefuture2008