TWO best friends who have lost their dads to cancer are gearing up to take on a fundraising 270-mile bike ride all the way to Buckingham Palace.

Richard Fahey, of Spinners Place in the town centre, and Matthew Clowes, from Newton-le-Willows will be joined by 15 other friends as they set off today, Thursday.

The pair, who are both 25, will leave from The Oak Tree pub and are due to reach the iconic landmark in the capital on Sunday following three hotel stops along the way.

Richard lost his dad Mike to a brain tumour caused by blood cancer last June after he had a 12-month battle with the disease, while Matthew lost his dad Keith to bowel cancer last November after a five-year fight.

The pair, who grew up together, have been training for more than two months for the charity feat in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Former Priestley College student Richard said: "We have all grown up together so it is special to be doing it with each other.

"Our families are really proud of us and I'm sure our dads would be too.

"Our friends are coming up too and will be there to cheer us on at the end, which is really nice.

"I have never done cycling before this but have got right into training in the past two months, as we all have.

"It will be around 270 miles on the cycling route – it is far and it will be tough but we have to take it every step as it comes.

"It will be nice to celebrate after it, we are pedalling for the beer!"

Matthew, who works for United Utilities at Lingley Mere, thanked Macmillan for its continuous 'hard work', which he believes 'often goes unnoticed'.

He added: "My dad was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2011 and was initially told he had weeks to live but he battled on.

"I wanted to do the bike ride in his honour.

"Like many families, who are suffering with cancer, when my dad was first diagnosed it really hit home hard.

"But you grow to live with it and it becomes a part of your daily lives.

"My dad suffered each day for years, some days worse than others.

"That is the motivation that will drive me on to reach our target and destination – no matter how tiring or tough the ride will be, it will be nothing compared to what the people who battle cancer each day go through.

"Macmillan has been a blessing to our family and it's time we give back."

After the initial fundraising target of £1,000 was smashed, the group are now hoping to reach the £10,000 mark.

A total of £8,500 has been raised so far.

Through a friend, Matthew has also got hold of three signed Manchester United shirts from the Glazer family, who own the club, to help with the fundraising effort.

The Glazers sent over signed Wayne Rooney, Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic shirts, with Ibrahimovic's landing the highest bid so far, at £500.

To donate head to justgiving.com/fundraising/keithclowes