A SOUTH Petherton man is undertaking a gruelling challenge this summer in memory of his late wife Gillian Morris.

Paul Morris, a former Chief of Staff of the Commando Helicopter Force at RNAS Yeovilton, will cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats in aid of Breast Cancer Now starting on August 3.

Paul’s wife, Gill, worked at the Bramcote Dental Surgery in Castle Cary until she was diagnosed with cancer in 2009. She was a popular member of staff and many patients from the surgery attended her funeral in December of last year.

Paul will make the journey on a bike Gill gave him 23 years ago.

“Even though the bike and I are both a bit rusty, it’s a way of making sure I take her with me on every moment of the journey,” he said.

Paul, who has completed tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Sierra Leone and Iraq, will be joined on a stretch of the journey by his son, Will.

Will is a former pupil of South Petherton Primary and Taunton School and is currently on a gap year before starting university.

Paul, a Lieutenant-Colonel in the Royal Marines, has already raised half of the £5,000 sponsorship target he set himself.

“I want to make something positive out of Gill’s illness,’ he said. “Breast cancer is a disease that affects so many people’s lives but, as a result of fundraising and research, more and more people are living through the disease every day.”

If you would like to help Paul with his fund-raising and sponsor the bike ride, his details can be found at the website https://www.justgiving.com/Paul-Morris39.