TWO fund-raisers are to cycle from Darwen Tower to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

Malcolm Brown and Dave Worden are seeking sponsors for the a 550-mile trip which will raise money for children with cancer.

Dave, of The Meadows, Darwen, will celebrate his 40th birthday in the French capital on April 21.

He said: "I've been friends with Mal for about 14 years and was talking about wanting to go to Paris for my birthday. So we thought, why don't we cycle there and do it for a good cause? Cancer touches everyone in one way or another and cancer in children is the most tragic thing and the most worthy cause to give to."

Dave lost his own mother to breast cancer and is now determined to give something back to charities which help people overcome the disease.

A partner in a Burnley engineering business, he said: "I've done a lot of cycling in the past but nothing this serious. Both Mal and I are ex-cricketers and we've been training in the gym and cycling at the weekend to prepare."

They hope to raise more than £10,000 for Cancer and Leukaemia in Childhood through the six-day Darwen to Paris ride.

Malcolm and his electronic recycling company, MGH Group, in Chorley, have set up a visit by comedian Bernard Manning to Darwen LIbrary Theatre on March 14 with all proceeds going to charity.

Malcolm, 42, of Key View, Darwen, said: "It looks like we will definitely raise the money and we think Bernard Manning will raise about £3,000 for us."

CLIC, formed by a group of doctors and parents in south-west England 25 years ago, aims to provide the best possible support for the 2,000 children diagnosed with cancer and leukaemia in the UK each year.

Andy Jarrett, legacy and community support manager for the charity, said: "Dave and Malcolm are doing a fantastic thing and hopefully they will get to Paris with big smiles having achieved what they set out to do.

"They have a lot of support from their wives, friends and family and the community."