DAVID Davies has met with a terminally ill cancer patient who is cycling 5,000 miles to raise funds for charity.

Jon Birchall set off on his motorbike on Saturday 6th June from the Comedy Carpet in Blackpool and passed through Monmouth last Friday (12th June).

In aid of the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer Jon is riding 5,000 miles around the coast of mainland Britain around England, Wales and Scotland, to show the world he will not be beaten by kidney cancer.

Following his experience, the 54-year-old has committed to spend his remaining time, estimated to be 30 to 40 months, promoting awareness of early diagnosis and raising funds for research into treatments and an eventual cure for kidney cancer for the James Whale Fund for Kidney Cancer. This ride is the start of Jon's campaign.

Jon said: "Receiving the news that my kidney cancer had spread, and that my prognosis was terminal had a devastating effect on Sarah, my wife, and me, along with our friends and family. I'm not a do nothing person, and once I'd conquered the initial shock, I made my mind up to do everything I could to prevent other people suffering the same fate. I want to emphasise to everyone, including the medical profession, the vital importance of early diagnosis of kidney cancer.

"Early diagnosis is quite simply the difference between life and death. If caught early there is a very good chance of achieving a cure. In my case two years were lost before the disease was correctly diagnosed. Even though I've had a radical nephrectomy and drastic immunotherapy it has proved impossible to halt the disease and my situation was described by the consultant as utterly hopeless.

"I love my motorbike and I love this country and I want to see as much of it as possible. This is a ride I have always wanted to do and now I have a real purpose to do it. I would love to meet as many people as possible as I travel around the country, I'm very excited about the ride."

Over 10,000 people are diagnosed with kidney cancer with more than 4,000 losing their lives to the disease each year, and these numbers are on the rise. Kidney cancer is the eighth most common cancer in the UK and the seventh most common type of cancer among men and 10th among women.

Early diagnosis greatly improves survival rates. Should you show any symptoms such as blood in urine, persistent low back pain or pain in your side between your ribs and hipbone, or if you feel a lump or mass in the area of your kidneys see your GP without delay. Jon's symptoms were atypical and he suffered from fatigue, fevers, and chills.

Offers of support and donations can be made at: http://www.facingup2kidneycancer.org">www.facingup2kidneycancer.org or by visiting Jon's Just Giving site: http://www.justgiving.com/facin">www.justgiving.com/facin

gup2kidneycancer or text JBKC55 and your amount to 70070.