When Amanda Wright embarks on a fund-raising cycle ride next month, she will be driven on by memories of her dad – and a desire to help others facing the illness that took his life.

Eastern Daily Press: Amanda Wright is set to do the London to Brighton cycle ride in memory of her father Garry Wright.Amanda Wright is set to do the London to Brighton cycle ride in memory of her father Garry Wright.

Garry Wright, 61, died on May 14 this year, just a month after being diagnosed with bone cancer.

On September 7, Amanda, from Gunton, Lowestoft will be cycling 54 miles from London to Brighton in aid of the Bone Cancer Research Trust.

She said: 'Because my dad passed away, I wanted to do something a bit different to raise money and awareness of bone cancer.

'When it all happened with dad we didn't know anything about it and if this helps another family in the same situation, that's what I aiming for.'

Amanda, 27, a nursery nurse at Roman Hill Primary School in Lowestoft, added: 'He died a month after he was diagnosed with bone cancer and six days after he found out it was terminal.

'We thought he'd have six months to a year to live and we were still getting our heads round that when he passed away.

'It has been difficult and preparing for the bike ride is keeping me busy and helping me get through it.

'I have been doing lots of spin classes and have had a bike made to measure at Dunx Cycles in Lowestoft and I've just been going out building up my distance.'

Mr Wright worked as a dustman in the Lowestoft area for 35 years and was well known in the community for his playful sense of humour.

He launched his own Subbuteo and Table Soccer club at his home in Minos Road, Gunton, in 2012 and his family are now planning to organise a special charity tournament in his memory.

Mr Wright, who had been married to his wife Linda for 32 years, had another daughter, Rachel, and two sons, Gareth and Stuart.

He had been suffering from severe back pain since Christmas, which had left him struggling to walk.

However, it was not until he was referred to hospital in April that he was diagnosed with bone cancer.

Amanda, who moved home with her partner Adam Taylor to help care for her father, said: 'He was just a huge joker and everybody knew him in the area.

'He will be remembered for acting the clown and always being silly.

'When he was at work he used to put pegs on the bottom of his managers' suits before they went into a meeting just for a laugh.'

?To sponsor Amanda on her fundraising ride, which is organised for Doitforcharity, visit www.justgiving.com/ garrywright