CYCLING from Paris to Blackpool will be a tough challenge for Steffan Latham but he says the face of his step son tattooed on his arm will drive him on when it gets tough.

Seven-year-old Ciaran died of a cardiac arrest in April last year while he was playing football near his school Locking Stumps Primary.

Since then cash has been raised in the Chester Football Club fan’s memory through the charity Ciaran’s Cause and 30 life-saving defibrillators have so far been handed to primary schools in the town.

Steffan and his friend since primary school Nik Ardrey, who lives in north Wales, hope to add to the fundraising with their charity tower to tower bike ride in April.

The 31-year-old, from Birchwood, said: “Training has been hard but we’re looking forward to doing it now.

“I’m most nervous about the start and cycling along the Champs-Élysées.

“We have never done anything like this before but the family have been really supportive with all the training.”

The cycle ride will finish on the one year anniversary of Ciaran’s death and Steffan says he has been delighted with the response the family’s defibrillator campaign has had.

He said: “Not a day goes by when I don’t think about what I saw that day when I ran through those school gates.

“I can’t believe how successful the charity has been and I can’t thank the people of Warrington enough.

“We hope finishing the bike ride on the anniversary can bring a bit of happiness to the occasion and I’ve got a portrait of Ciaran on my fore arm that will always be on show through the ride.”

Visit justgiving.com/steffan-latham to donate or text STEF56 and your amount to 70070.