A TEENAGER battling a brain condition is hoping to raise £75,000 for charity by cycling 1,000 miles from Denmark to England.

Scott Nielson, 18, will cycle from Copenhagen to Alder Hey Hospital in Liverpool via Oxford for the Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

He was diagnosed with hydrocephalus, a condition that prevents fluid being drained from the brain, when he was 15 months old.

The condition can lead to headaches, vomiting, blurred vision and difficulty walking.

The Oxford & Cherwell Valley College student said: “The idea to cycle across Europe came from my mum, as we both thought I’d like to do something for a hydrocephalus charity.

“The hospital in Copenhagen is where I was first diagnosed and Alder Hey is where I had my most recent, and hopefully last, operation.”

Mr Nielson is studying for A-Levels in chemistry, maths and law and will set off once his exams are finished in July.

The two-week route will take him through Germany, Holland, Belgium, France and into the UK.

He said: “I’m going to be doing it alone and will be cycling on average around 150km a day, though I’m hoping to do it faster.

“It’s only in the past year or so that I have properly got into cycling and races.”

In 2004, he spent nearly a year in hospital after suffering complications with a shunt – a tube draining liquid from his brain into his stomach.

He added: “It was the worst year of my life.”

Mr Nielson, originally from Denmark, now lives in Rickyard Close, Oxford, with his mother Heidi, after moving here in 2005.

He said: “I really like Oxford, it’s got a great culture.

“The city will definitely be on my route through to Liverpool.”

He is now riding about 300km a week in preparation. He said: “I’ve set myself a target of £75,000, which I know is ambitious, but I wanted to set a difficult goal.

“That amount of money could make a real difference to the charity.”

To sponsor Mr Nielson, go to scottseuropean adventure.co.uk