A DEAF man is cycling 3,200 miles across the USA in a mammoth charity challenge.

Shane Pendergast will ride from San Francisco to New York in September in aid of children’s cancer and deafness charities.

The 29-year-old, from Westbrook, will average 120 miles a day on a cycle that will take 28 days.

Money raised from the challenge will go to charities close to Shane’s heart – he has chosen to raise money for Action on Hearing Loss and CLIC Sargent as he himself is deaf while his mum recently beat breast cancer.

He said: “Being deaf has undoubtedly been the biggest challenge of my life.

“When I was around 12 years old I was informed that I had a significant hearing loss – I have worn hearing aids since I was a teenager and was profoundly deaf by 21.

“My family’s lives were turned upside down when my lovely mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 – she fought cancer and luckily she’s back fighting fit and doing fantastic.

“But the experience was so traumatic and I can’t even begin to imagine the pain, confusion and heartache young children and their families must experience during cancer.”

Shane is also following in the footsteps of his father, who managed to raise £50,000 for charity with epic bike rides across the USA, Australia and Canada.

He added: “Almost 20 years later I’m attempting his first foreign ride.

“My father has raised over £50,000 for charity in the form of gruelling bike rides – his main rides include America, Australia, Canada and around the coast of Britain.

“I’m immensely proud of my father and I would like to follow in his footsteps and give something back to those less fortunate.”

To donate go to rideforthechild.co.uk.