A hospital worker is taking on an epic charity challenge to raise money for a worthy cause.

Ian Denslow, 30, from Dorchester, will take on part of the famous Tour De France route to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK, a charity dedicated to improving the welfare of men affected by the disease.

Ian took on the first leg of the 2017 Tour de France on Saturday and cycled the 126-mile stretch from Düsseldorf, Germany, to Liège, Belgium just one week before the pros.

Ian works on the stroke unit at Dorset County Hospital. He says he chose Prostate Cancer UK for a good reason.

He said: “I chose that charity because I wanted to do something for a specific group of men and to raise awareness of the disease, so other men can recognise the symptoms and get tested and treated as early as possible. There’s a lot of public press around women with breast cancer, but not so much around prostate cancer.”

Along the way, fundraising events including a quiz night, wine tasting, a volleyball weekend on Weymouth beach and a FIFA tournament., along with Ian’s JustGiving page, have brought the current total to just over £2,850.

Ian also braved a legs wax as his last fundraiser before the big event, as well as creating ‘strava art’, using a GPS signal to create a picture of a bird in Dorchester. He hopes to have reached £3,000 by the time he cycles into Liège.

He said: “The goal was to raise £1,000 but we have already surpassed £2,000.He said: “There’s been a lot of support from people at work, and from local companies who got involved with the raffle and donated prizes, and special thanks to my partner Jamie-Leigh for putting up with me talking bike, riding bike and moaning bike.”

Ian said the fundraising is about working towards a future where men don’t die of prostrate cancer.

“It’s crazy how hard it is to do the training and the fundraising at the same time but most importantly, it’s about the men with prostate cancer and those in the future that will be diagnosed. It’s about supporting them and their families and working towards a future where men don’t die of prostate cancer.

“I’m surprised but very pleased and humbled by the amount of support.”

To find out more about Ian’s challenge or to donate to Ian’s fundraising visit justgiving.com/fundraising/iandenslow