'I organised a charity bike ride - without a bike'

Callum said Eliyah was "sassy" and talkative

A man organised an 85-mile charity bike ride for his niece - before remembering he did not actually own a bicycle.

Callum said the idea was "pulled out of nowhere" because he was so keen to help raise funds for his niece.

Four-year-old Eliyah, from Nottingham, was diagnosed with leukaemia on 28 April in what her family describe as a "massive shock".

After buying a second-hand bike from social media, Callum admitted his main training for the ride from the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham to Skegness on 1 August was commuting to his job in Derby.

Eliyah's diagnosis came "almost overnight" according to Callum

The 28-year-old, from Sandiacre, Derbyshire, said: "She is the sassiest, most talkative four-year-old you could imagine. You can hold a conversation with her for 10 minutes and she won't stop talking and talking.

"She was into her horses and into her dancing. She was always on the go but then the diagnosis came almost overnight."

Other members of the family began to suggest fundraising ideas so Callum wanted to join in.

"I just pulled the idea out of nowhere and everyone really went for it," he said.

"Then I realised I didn't actually own a bike, so I had to go social media and buy one second-hand. Hopefully it will do the job.

"I work in Derby so going there from home is the main training and that's going OK but the heat doesn't make it easy."

Kelly, Eliyah's grandmother, said support from the family had been 'amazing'

Eliyah's grandmother Kelly, 45, from Wollaton, said the diagnosis came out of the blue after she became lethargic and had nose bleeds.

"You just don't expect it," she said. "You just don't expect to be told that your four-year-old granddaughter has got cancer, it was a massive shock.

"But we've had amazing support, the community has really come forward, we've had so many people offer support and this is so important.

"She's just started a new chemotherapy treatment as part of her two-year programme but hopefully she'll soon be back to the sassy girl we know."

Callum said the original idea was "just me and the road" but he is being joined by a friend and the family has organised a welcoming party.

He said: "What would be really great is if Eliyah could be there herself - that's what would really make it extra special."