A MAN is set to tackle a 24-hour mountain bike challenge in memory of a Worcester toddler who lost her battle with cancer.

Alex Martin was so inspired by two-year-old Abi White and the kindness of her parents Mark and April White that he decided he wanted to do something to help.

“My little girl is just 12 months younger, so I couldn’t help but think how dreadful it would be were she ill,” said Mr Martin, whose wife Louise works with Mrs White.

“But April and Mark were amazing – they always ask about our little girl and how we are. They were so kind to everybody, even though they were going through hell.”

As we reported in your Worcester News last month, Abi lost her nine-month battle against a rare form of cancer.

Originally, Mr Martin wanted to raise money to help Abi and her parents with the likely long-term effects of her illness – a rare form of cancer that had caused tumours all over her body – but, when it became clear she would lose her battle against the disease, he had to rethink his plans.

Mr Martin said: “When I started it was to support Abi and her family for her future, but when things went badly wrong for Abi I put all plans on hold. After she died, I asked Mark and April what they would like to do, and they said they wanted to support the charities which had supported them while Abi was sick.”

So Mr Martin – a keen mountain-biker – decided to take on Mountain Mayhem, a 24-hour challenge involving a nine-and-a-half mile off-road course with about 1,100 feet of climbing per lap, to raise money for Acorns Children’s Hospice and Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

The 39-year-old aims to cycle an impressive 72 to 90 miles as one of just 135 soloists undertaking the race on Saturday, June 18, and Sunday, June 19. He said: “I had wanted to do it for a few years, but it’s quite an undertaking. This gives me a good reason to do it.” But Mr Martin’s fund-raising ambitions go further than just this one event – which he has already collected £240 towards.

He has also set up a website which can act as a base for anyone wanting to raise money in Abi’s memory in future.

Mr Martin said: “At the moment, I’m doing something but I’m trying to think long term. Hopefully, when my thing is over people will want to do things as well.”

To find out more about Mr Martin’s fund-raising efforts and how to help, visit abigail grace.org.uk.