A ROSSENDALE man is taking on two bike rides to raise money for charity following his ‘life changing’ battle.

Stefan Mann, 42, was told that he had throat cancer in February last year and underwent intensive treatment course before being given the all clear.

The dad-of-two from Edenfield is now aiming to raise £500 through two charity bike rides in Manchester at the end of June and August.

Stefan, who has worked at Bury Council for four years, will be taking on the 52-mile course of the ‘Greater Manchester Cycle’ in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support on June 29.

He is then aiming to complete the Manchester 100 Bike Ride on August 31 for The Christie in Manchester where he was treated.

Stefan moved to the area with his family when he was at secondary school and attended St Christopher’s CE High School in Accrington before moving on to study at Accrington and Rossendale College.

The Ashlands Close resident said that he wanted to take on the two bike rides to “give something back” to the two charities that helped him during his treatment.

He said: “It all started in December 2012 when I noticed that a lump had appeared on my neck over night.

“I just thought that it was a reaction to something and that it would go away.

“After a while I went to the doctors and I was sent for some tests. It was in February 2013 that I was told that it was throat cancer. I went for six weeks of radiotherapy and two weeks of chemotherapy in May last year.

“It was a very difficult time and the treatment dried out my throat and made it very hard to swallow so I was only eating very small meals.

“My wife Sarah was amazing throughout.

“My employer has been really good to me and I returned to work in September.”

To donate visit the site: www.stefanmann.me.uk