A FOOTBALLER and MTV star will be kayaking through Worcester as he hopes to create a "legacy" for his daughter who died of cancer.

Ashley Cain, who previously played for Coventry City, is running, cycling and paddling thousands of miles across the UK in memory of his daughter Azaylia.

The 33-year-old is travelling from Land’s End to John O’Groats three times—once running, once cycling, and once kayaking—and today (Wednesday), he will be seen going down the River Severn in Worcester.

The challenge began on April 24, marking the anniversary of Azaylia’s death, and it is hoped to raise money for more research into childhood cancer.

The reality star who appeared on Ex on the Beach has called the challenge Ultraman 2024 which will see him doing almost 3,000 miles.  

Mr Cain has so far raised more than £100,000 for The Azaylia Foundation – a charity he founded and named after his eight-month-old daughter who died of leukaemia in April 2021.

“The biggest lesson that my daughter ever taught me was that she always smiled, which made me smile, and it showed me that even through your darkest times, where you’re feeling your most pain, you can shine light onto others," he said.

“That’s what I hope to continue to do in my daughter’s legacy.

"But the purpose behind it is enough to push me through every single time and I always reflect back to who I am at the other side of my pain.

“Through the pain that I feel, I can inspire a nation to believe that no matter what they’re going through, you can always see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

The star will arrive at Worcester Bridge today, but no time has yet been given as it depends on how fast or slow Mr Cain can paddle on the day.

The star is also set to spend the night in the city and leave from Worcester Bridge tomorrow morning.

Mr Cain is raising money for The Azaylia Foundation’s Childhood Cancer PhD Scholarship Programme, which aims to fund PhD research into childhood cancer.

“We believe that with a PhD, that’s the real way to have the biggest impact in childhood cancer, by bringing new talent and research into that space,” he added.

“Childhood cancer, the number one killer of our children in the UK, they receive 3% of cancer research funding and that’s not enough.

“There’s so many different cancers out there that have been researched for adults.

“If the biology of the adult cancer matches the biology of childhood cancer, then we want children to be included in that research and then that way you’ll help absolutely everybody.”