A father from Helston has spent the last month walking 21 miles every week in memory of his own dad who died from an incurable blood cancer back in April.

By doing so, Nigel Riding has raised £294 in sponsorship for Myeloma UK, a charity focused on discovering and developing new treatments for the disease, which originates in the bone marrow.

To mark the charity’s 21st year, it asked supporters to do “21 Miles for Myeloma” in the run up to an awareness week from June 21 to 27.

Mr Riding chose to do this by walking a minimum of 21 miles around the Penrose Estate every week for a month, clocking up 110 miles in total by the end.

He took with him a soft toy of “Buddy,” the symbol of Myeloma UK.

Mr Riding said: “My dad, Brian, was diagnosed with myeloma a couple of years ago and sadly passed away in April. I dedicated this challenge to my dad.

“Myeloma is a very aggressive cancer that shows very few symptoms and early diagnosis is important. I had not even heard of it before and awareness week is to promote the illness to more people.

“Myeloma UK is the only organisation dealing exclusively with myeloma in the UK. They receive no government funding and rely on donations and fundraising. “

Approximately 5,700 people are diagnosed with myeloma each year in the UK. Unlike many other cancers, it does not exist as a lump or tumour, with the most common symptoms being bone pain, recurring infection, kidney damage and fatigue. While treatments can reduce symptoms effectively, at the moment there is no cure.