Whisky enthusiast Richard Ednay is to auction his collection of Scottish malts to raise cash to help fund a charity which supports cancer sufferers.

Richard was recently been diagnosed with myeloma, cancer of the bone marrow, and is taking part in a chemotherapy-based clinical trial which is looking at a new way of treating the disease.

The 52-year-old, who lives in West Marton, is a keen cyclist but has had to give up his hobby as well touring on a tandem with his wife, Sarah.

“I’ve decided to treat my participation in the Myeloma X1 clinical trial as a kind of personal sponsored endurance event,” said Richard, who, with his wife, runs his own company, Optical Technology Training.

The whisky auction will take place at the Cross Keys, West Marton, on Saturday evening and the money raised will go to Myeloma UK.

Richard, who has been advised to avoid alcohol, has cycled in countries as far apart as Japan and Cuba.

“Giving up my cycling has been he hardest thing to come to terms with. Because of the fragility of my bones, it’s unlikely I’ll cycle again,” he said.

He was taken ill while running a training course away from home and was admitted to Ipswich hospital on February 27.

“I had had a bad back – it was just a niggly pain – and thought it was muscular.

“It got worse over the lunch time and I went back into the classroom and lay down to stretch but then couldn’t stand up and was in intense pain.

“I was a bloke with a bad back before lunch and in the afternoon my spine was being eaten by cancer.”

He received spinal reconstructive surgery in Ipswich and spent another month at various hospitals having further tests.

The charity auction will also feature a stall of craft jewellery and woodturning by Richard’s sister. Jeanette Hannaby and her husband, Paul.

For more information about Richard’s challenge log on to justgiving.com/Richard-Ednay where you can also donate online.

Alternatively text a donation to RCWE52.