Rovers fan to cycle to away games for cancer charity

Lewis Robinson is doing the cycling challenge for the Smiley Smiley Josh Riley Foundation

A Blackburn Rovers fan has pledged to cycle to every away game this season to raise money for a cancer charity in memory of his friend who died from the disease.

Lewis Robinson, from Blackburn, set off from his beloved Ewood Park on Wednesday for Norwich, more than 250 miles (400km) away, for the opening Championship game against Norwich City.

He wants to raise at least £25,000 for the Smiley Smiley Josh Riley Foundation which builds holiday lodges for people in treatment and their families. Mr Riley died in 2015.

Mr Robinson said: "We're hoping to build as many lodges as we can for people going through cancer treatment, just for a place of respite and help them recover."

Mr Robinson said he would set off from his beloved Ewood Park and aims to get to the away stadiums just in time for kick off.

The chief executive of Robinson Recruitment Group in Blackburn said he knew it would be gruelling but it was a challenge he was "willing to face in memory of my friend and to help local people suffering from this complicated and painful condition".

He hoped the lodges would also help patients with their morale and "really give them that holiday experience when it might not be possible".

Norwich City host Blackburn Rovers with kick off at 15:00 BST.