AFTER Gary Hamblin’s young daughter was diagnosed with diabetes, he wanted to do something to help others in the same situation.

And he has done just that. Since the 41-year-old from Witney took up long-distance cycling more than a year ago, he has raised almost £1,900 for the Oxfordshire Young Diabetics Association, based at the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford.

The father-of-two said: “I was always a keen cyclist anyway and I just started doing a lot of long-distance rides.

“It’s a great way of keeping fit and it’s becoming very popular in England. I thought I would get a few people to sponsor me but it snowballed – I was hoping to raise £500, but now the final figure is almost £1,900, which is fantastic.

“The whole point is that the Oxfordshire Young Diabetics is quite a small unit.

“It has done such a good job and they have done so much for my daughter Adele, I wanted to give something back.”

Mr Hamblin has taken part in two cycling events this summer — an 88-mile ride in Stokenchurch and a 90-mile event in Wantage.

Adele, seven, was diagnosed with diabetes two years ago.

Mr Hamblin said: “It was a bit of a traumatic experience when she was diagnosed, but the association was very good to us and it is always a call away and very supportive and helpful.”

Mr Hamblin, a deputy site manager at Nuffield College, in Oxford, hopes to do more cycle rides next year for the charity, which his nine-year-old son Jack may join in.