WHEN Martin Palmer's son Jack was a month away from his third birthday, the family received the news that he had a tumour behind his eye.

Eleven years on, Martin is hoping to raise money for families in similar situations by completing a 105-mile bike ride to raise money for the Donna Louise Children's Hospice.

Along with his workmate Stew Gardiner, he will attempt the three-day journey from Glasgow to Fort William via the West Highland Way during the late May Bank Holiday weekend. They hope to raise £1,000 for the Trentham Lakes hospice.

Martin, a recruiter at the Armed Forces Career Office in Hanley, said: "I've been to the hospice a few times to do things such as donate teddies for the children.

"It brought everything that happened with my son back to me but also made me realise how lucky we were to still have him with us."

Martin and his family were on a trip back to England from Germany, where he was serving in the Army, when family members noticed problems with Jack's eye.

He saw a doctor and was rushed to hospital, where he was diagnosed with a tumour of the optic nerve. Partway through surgery, Martin and his wife Emma received a call to say doctors could remove the tumour, but it would leave their son blind in one eye.

They opted for its removal – but the following day Jack stopped breathing. Nurses managed to bring him round and Jack made a good recovery, despite blindness in one eye.

Martin, who is also father to 11-year-old Dylan, said: "Jack was in hospital for about a month, but once he recovered, he never had any real problems. He leads a normal life now."

The pair have been training for their challenge since the start of the year and have lined up a team of helpers to transport camping gear.

Stew, aged 33, from Newcastle, said: "We have read guides and spoken to people who have walked up there and found it extremely rocky and steep – almost unrideable. But generally I am looking forward to it."

Jack, now aged 14, said: "I didn't know what to think when dad told me what he was doing, but I think it is a good thing now. I'm proud of him."

Martin and Stew will be raising money between 10am and 4pm at Sainsbury's in Stoke on April 17 and 18, and Morrisons in Newcastle on May 16.