A HOSPITAL surgeon has completed a gruelling cycling feat to raise money to help fund new training for robotic-assisted surgery.

Burnley General Hospital surgeon Michal Smolski joined a team of urologists to cycle 300 miles in two days from London to Amsterdam, as part of the Bike4TUF challenge.

The £32,000 raised for The Urology Foundation (TUF), will be used to support the training of more surgeons and operating theatre teams in robotic-assisted surgery.

The fundraising challenge comes after East Lancashire’s hospital trust has become the first in the region to use the £1.3m Da Vinci robot to carry out colorectal surgery.

So far, five patients have had robotic colorectal surgery using the £1.3m Da Vinci robot at the Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, including robotic colorectal resections for cancer.

Dr Smolski, who has worked at the hospital since 2014, has taken part in fundraising challenges in the past to raise money for TUF and new technology training.

In 2015, he cycled to the British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS) annual conference in Manchester, along with other cyclists, after a 210-mile long charity cycle ride from London.

Ben Eddy, a consultant urological surgeon at Kent and Canterbury Hospital who organised the challenge and who has been involved in setting up robotic surgery for the surgical treatment of men with prostate cancer, said: “I am grateful to The Urology Foundation for recognising the importance of, and supporting training in robotic-assisted surgery.

“I wanted to do this challenge to give something back.

“With this ride, we can make a difference in supporting the innovative research, training and education that TUF is dedicated to.

“I can see this difference when two of my own patients are joining the ride.

“The difference my team was able to make to these patients was partly funded by TUF.

“To now see them join this great endeavour is just remarkable.”

Louise de Winter, chief executive of The Urology Foundation, said: “I have participated in charity bike rides myself, and know it isn’t easy.

"I am very grateful for the help of these surgeons and patients in raising awareness and funds to continue the fight against urological disease.”