Don and Josh Thompson

Mr Thompson, a partner in commercial law firm McKees, will be joined by his 17-year-old son Josh and family friend Andy Gallagher on the fundraising ride, which has been organised in loving memory of their beloved niece and cousin, Evie Poolman, who died from brain cancer in 2021.

The trio will set off from Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway on Thursday, ending their ride at the Snargate, Kent home where Mr Thompson grew up with his sister and Evie’s mum, Bridget, brother Peter and sister Rachel.

Explaining what motivated him to take on the challenge, Mr Thompson said: “My niece Evie was a beautiful little girl with the most incredible spirit.

“When she first started experiencing migraines, doctors told her parents that they shouldn’t be concerned. However further tests were carried out when she started seeing double shortly before Christmas in 2020 which revealed a tumour.

“My sister Bridget and her husband Charles subsequently received the devastating diagnosis that Evie, who was just nine years old, had diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a highly aggressive and rare form of brain cancer that forms in a child’s brainstem and for which there is currently no cure.

“Evie subsequently endured 30 rounds of radiation and four separate brain surgeries before her brave battle ended in June 2021 at the age of nine, just six months after her initial diagnosis.”

He continued: “Sadly, and unbelievably, the treatment plan Evie underwent for the condition has not changed in 60 years, and about 25 per cent of all the childhood deaths from cancer every year relate to this cancer.

“The courage shown by Evie and the incredible way that Bridget, Charles and her sisters Grace and Molly have dealt with this tragedy is nothing short of miraculous.

“As a family, we are doing whatever we can to support their mission in helping to raise awareness about the condition in the hope we can raise money to help fund further research, so that a treatment and cure can be found for this devastating disease.

“My son Josh and I, together with our good friend Andy Gallagher, will be embarking on a sponsored cycle during the Easter holidays, from near Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway to Snargate, Kent to the house in which Bridget and I grew up with our family.

“We are encouraging people to sponsor us on this 550-mile journey to help raise vital funds for the charity Abbie’s Army and in memory of our little Evie.”

The trio are welcoming donations via JustGiving.