Ludlow cancer survivor's cycle festival

As a 21-year-old he was diagnosed with cancer of his mouth. But having fought off the disease once, he was then diagnosed again 20 years later when a tumour was discovered in the side of his face.

But Ashley, 45, won his battle all over again – and is now preparing to hold a cycling festival in his home town this weekend to give something back to the charity that helped him in his hour of need.

Keen cyclist Ashley first held Ludlow Cycling Festival last year in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support. Some 350 riders took part and more than £8,000 was raised. It will return on Sunday and will include rides and challenges for all ages and abilities.

Ashley, who lives with wife Lara and 10-year-old son Rowan in Ludlow, said: "The first time I was diagnosed in 1991 I was 21 and it was in the roof of my mouth. I had radiotherapy at the time, then four years ago I got cancer in the side of my face.

"I had my surgery and treatment at The Royal Marsden in Chelsea, which has been a cancer centre for 150 years.

"A Macmillan grant paid for my train fares to London; Macmillan also gave me financial advice and pointed me in the direction of disability living allowance, and most importantly supplied me with a counsellor who came to our home once a month for six months."

Starting from Ludlow Rugby Club at 8.30am, the longest ride will be a 100km tour of the area along quiet lanes taking in Bucknell, Newcastle-on-Clun, Kerry Ridge, Bishop's Castle and Wenlock Edge.

"Entry is £25 on the day and all of that goes to Macmillan, specifically to help people in Shropshire," Ashley said.

Other charity rides include an intermediate 30km 'orchard ride' to Tenbury Wells with a stop for cake at Burford House Garden Centre, and an 11km marshalled family ride around the Earl of Plymouth's estates at Bromfield.

New for this year, he said, there was also a guided mountain biking trail around Mortimer Forest.

Meanwhile, back at the rugby club there will be family activities including laser tag, a climbing wall, children's obstacle course, bouncy castle and slide and a cycle-powered smoothie-maker. There will also be a "mega prize raffle", Ashley said.