THE FRIENDS of a man who suffered with a rare disease are taking on a mammoth cycling challenge in his memory.

Nigel Little, from Bolton, was described as "the life and soul of any party" despite battling myeloma, a blood cancer which can cause severe pain and make bones become brittle and break.

He died in November 2018 at the age of 59 after living with the debilitating disease for several years.

Now, a group of Mr Little's friends plan to take on an enormous task and cycle from London to Paris - a 500km journey - to raise money for myeloma.

'Team Nigel' consists of Diane Hawkins, 62, with husband Stephen, 63, daughter-in-law Sarah, 31, and her father Rob Downes, 63.

"Nigel encouraged us to do this, although he thought we were mad, and we are sure he will be with us in spirit," said Mrs Hawkins, speaking ahead of the journey.

“During those years of having myeloma, Nigel fought hard against the disease, enduring many courses of chemotherapy and two autologous stem cell transplants supported by the fantastic team at the Christie Hospital in Manchester.

"Despite the shadow of myeloma, Nigel loved life and was so often the life and soul of any party he attended. He didn’t let his condition diminish his sense of fun and he grasped opportunities, despite not always being in the best of health.

"As family friends, we knew Nigel for many years and miss him greatly. We wanted to do something this year in his memory and all of us felt the London to Paris Cycle Ride, raising funds for Myeloma UK, was an obvious choice."

Mr Downes added: “Through knowing Nigel and another close friend who is currently living with myeloma I recognise the challenge of treatment both for patients and clinicians.

"There is an ongoing need for treatment protocols to be refined and new drugs devised to fight the disease.

"This needs financial resources and we are very happy to be doing our bit to raise funds to assist Myeloma UK in supporting research."

At any one time there are around 17,500 people living with myeloma in the UK. It accounts for 15 per cent of blood cancers, and two per cent of all cancers.

To donate to Team Nigel's cause, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/hawkinsdownesfornigel.