A 23-year-old man will tackle the C2C bike route to raise money for the hospital unit that saved his dad's life.

Ryan Briggs, of Workington, will set off with friends Paul Bonner and Scott Jardine tomorrow (Saturday, July 30) on the two-day ride to raise cash for the intensive care unit at Whitehaven's West Cumberland Hospital.

His dad Herbert, 51, of Northside, almost died in January, after contracting food poisoning.

Herbert, who will be driving the support van, said: "I was taken ill and my family were told I was 60 minutes away from death.

"Both my kidneys and my liver had packed up and machines were keeping me alive. If it wasn't for the doctors and the nurses I wouldn't be here today."

Herbert spent 14 days in hospital and it took him four months to make a full recovery.

He is holding a fundraising event next weekend, which has sold out.

Herbert said: "We've sold 100 tickets, so we've already made £400, but I'm hoping we'll raise more on the night. We're just trying to give something back.

"I'm absolutely delighted that my son and his friends have decided to help me raise the money."