A NURSE is planning to cycle more than 300 miles across South-East Asia to raise funds in memory of her mother.

Clare Whiteside, 37, from Richmond, North Yorkshire, is looking for sponsorship for her 330- mile journey through Vietnam and Cambodia later this year.

Clare, who works in Bedale, North Yorkshire, hopes to raise at least £2,000 for St Teresa’s Hospice, in Darlington.

The hospice provided invaluable support and care for Clare’s mother, Barbara Selby, also from Richmond, who died a year ago, aged 65.

Before her death, Mrs Selby fought an unsuccessful battle to persuade her local NHS primary care trust to fund a new advanced kidney cancer drug. Her story was highlighted in The Northern Echo as part of our End NHS Injustice campaign on cancer drugs.

Five months after she died, last September, the drug-rationing body Nice, changed its advice and approved the drug for use on the NHS.

Clare, who sets off on her cycling marathon in November, said of the hospice: “They didn’t just help mum, they helped me too.

“Nothing was too much trouble.”

Anyone wanting to sponsor her or make a donation can ring her on 07864-954056 or go to justgiving.com/clare whiteside She plans to give details of her progress via Facebook and her own personal blog.

“It would be great if some local companies in Richmond would sponsor my T-shirt,” she added.