AFTER losing two close relations to bowel cancer within four months of each other, Martin Laina is tackling a 100-mile cycle challenge to fund research.

The Botley resident is taking part in the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 on July 31 to raise memory for the charity Beating Bowel Cancer.

It comes after his aunt Aurelia Laina died in September 2014 aged 80, before her daughter Maria Rela?o passed away four months after at 45.

Mr Laina, 39, said: "It wasn’t until my aunt's death that my cousin told the family that she had also been recently diagnosed with bowel cancer.

"It was a terrible shock for the family to lose both of them in such a short space of time from the same illness."

The former Magdalen College School pupil will take on the same route made famous by the world's top cyclists at the 2012 London Olympics.

The course will begin in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park before taking riders on a 100-mile journey through the capital and into the Surrey countryside, before finishing on the Mall in London.

Mr Laina, who works as an export sales manager for Derwent in Aylesbury, said: "Bowel cancer an awful disease but far too many people are unaware of it and it can often be diagnosed too late to be treated.

"But it doesn’t have to be this way, as nine out of 10 cases can be treated successfully if caught early enough.

"So I want to do as much as I can to help raise awareness of the disease in order to help save more lives."

To prepare the challenge, Mr Laina, who lives with his partner James, has had help from his mum Mary and cousin Marcos to raise money for the charity.

He added: "I’m the sort of cyclist that needs a goal to keep me interested. So taking on this challenge for such an amazing cause gives me all the inspiration I need.

"Cycling 100 miles over this route, which is pretty hilly, is physically tough but I think the main challenge will be dealing with the sheer number of cyclists on the road and the mental preparation.

"You need to have the confidence mentally that you can do it, otherwise your body can give up too easily."

Beating Bowel Cancer's fundraising events manager Danielle Chamberlain said: "We wish Martin the best of luck for his challenge and we’ll be there cheering him on from the side-lines."

To donate visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Martin-Laina.