Kim BriscoeSeven friends have set out on a gruelling 1,000-mile cycle ride in memory of a man died from bowel cancer just five days after his wedding.The intrepid group, who set off on their ride from John O'Groats to Land's End yesterday, will be raising money for Bowel and Cancer Research in memory of Nathan Bray.Kim Briscoe

Seven friends have set out on a gruelling 1,000-mile cycle ride in memory of a man died from bowel cancer just five days after his wedding.

The intrepid group, who set off on their ride from John O'Groats to Land's End yesterday, will be raising money for Bowel and Cancer Research in memory of Nathan Bray.

Mr Bray, from Attleborough, was 32 when he was diagnosed with bowel cancer last March. When he was told on July 21 that his condition was terminal he married his sweetheart of six years, Aneliese, on July 25, but died five days after their wedding.

Gareth Williams, 30, from Plumstead Road, was Mr Bray's best man and plans to top the epic bike ride by running the London Marathon just a few days later on what would have been his friend's birthday.

Mr Williams, a trainer for Anglian Home Improvements in Norwich, has cycled 1,400 miles since March 1 in preparation, including rides of up to 40 miles before work.

He said: 'The training went really well and the support we have had has been fantastic.

'I think the hardest part for me will be running the London Marathon two days after we finish.

'On the ride the hills and the wind will be tough. You can't really train for the hills in Norfolk.

'We have all got quite a funny and dark sense of humour at times which I think will spur each other on.

'When it does get tough then I think the fact that we are riding for Nathan will keep us going.'

The cyclists will be keeping online blogs of the ride, which will take about 10 days, and people can log on and see how far they have got on a map which tracks the position of one of their mobile phones.

The other cyclists are Norwich men Matt Atherton, 26, from Cambridge Street, civil engineer Jason Mountain, 27, from Drayton Road, Dave Ames, from Reading, Andrew Steventon and Tom Hewitt from Northampton and Jack Stevens from London.

Bowel Cancer Research specialises in funding pioneering research into the causes and treatment of bowel cancer.

To donate and read the blogs of the ride, log on to www.nathanbrayfoundation.co.uk.

For more information about Bowel and Cancer Research visit www.bowelcancerresearch.org.

Are you organising a fundraising event in memory of a friend or loved one? Contact reporter Kim Briscoe on 01603 772419 or email kim.briscoe@archant.co.uk.