A FORMER Royal Marine is cycling 450km through Vietnam and Cambodia in memory of his father.

Stephen Speirs from Cwmbran is hoping to raise over £2,000 for St David’s Hospice Care, who cared for his dad Clifford.

Clifford Speirs passed away in 2005 at the age of 66 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, and the charity’s support meant he could spend his final few days at home with wife Kay and the rest of his family.

Mr Speirs, 53, of Ventnor Road, said: “St David’s looked after my dad during his final few weeks, at the time we didn't know how long he would have left.

“Their support to me and the rest of my family in that hard time is something I will never forget. I am forever grateful and it’s my way of saying thank you.”

Mr Speirs, who served in the Falklands, Belize, Norway and Northern Ireland during the 1980s, previously run the 2010 London Marathon for the charity and then began looking for a challenge that was out of the ordinary.

The ex-marine commando will battle heat and humidity over 30°c across waterways, plantations and unpaved dusty roads.

For ten days from flying out at Heathrow on Thursday, November 10, he will cycle with 16 other British riders, starting at Vietnam’s capital city My Tho and riding 319km over four days to the crossing by the city of Châu ??c.

After a day break the group will kick-off in Kampong Thom and continue for another 131km to Cambodia’s north-western city of Siem Reap.

Although the current route totals 450km, this may vary as parts of the routes will be rarely used rural dirt tracks, so the route may have to be changed nearer the time.

Mr Speirs added: “My family think I have gone a little mad but have all been very supportive. It won’t be until November so I think the challenge will come more real nearer the time.

“They have said they would come out to watch but I think it’s the weather that interests them more.

"I have already started training a couple of times a week, it's a good way of keeping fit and I am also organising a charity raffle in Cwmbran’s Mount Pleasant pub.”

To donate visit http://bit.ly/1OnAtNo