A Financial Planner will be cycling close to 350 miles over four days inspired by a 23 month old boy who died from a rare form of cancer.
Jason Lowe, a partner at Cheshire-based wealth management firm Equilibrium, is set to ride from Geneva to Nice through the Alps in June to raise vital cash for the Reuben's Retreat charity.

He hopes to raise £5,000 for the organisation, set up for a boy called Reuben who suffered from an atypical terratoid rhabdoid tumour.

According to the charity's website it is a "very rare and aggressive form of Cancerous tumour, only 4 to 5 children will be diagnosed with this tumour in the UK per year and there are very few symptoms".

The family said the illness had developed rapidly and been "every parent's worst nightmare" but they "vowed that his life would not have been lost in vain and that he would leave a lasting legacy".

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The retreat is for children with life limiting and life threatening illnesses, with a bereavement support and counselling centre for the families.

Taking on the mammoth ride is Mr Lowe's second challenge in recent years, having done the great north swim two years ago and raised over £2,000.

He said: "I was inspired to do it as a challenge to myself to prove that I still can and to raise as much money as I can for a fantastic charity.

"The preparation is going well despite a crash on a bend going downhill needing repairs to my bike."

The toughest part of the event, taking place from 19 to 24 June, will be going over the Alps, he said.

If he hits the £5,000 target this will be matched by The Equilibrium Foundation to make a grand total of £10,000. The foundation supports causes in the north-west area, where the company is based, focusing on needs of the young and elderly, as well as those with whom its clients and staff have a personal affiliation.

Since its launch two years ago Reuben's Retreat has helped over 100 families.

Money raised by Mr Lowe could help in the following ways:

• £200 could give a family a short break away
• £1,000 can help support 25 families
• £10,000 can help support 250 families
• £10,000 could fit a kitchen in a self-catering lodge