A LAWYER who battled terminal cancer to complete a 200-mile cycle ride has lost his fight for life.
Nicholas Stormonth turned his back on treatment to ride 185 miles between Milan and San Remo in Italy.
The 36-year-old from Longniddry, East Lothian, suffering agonising pain on the 11-hour, mountainous route but raised £10,000 for charity.
Nicholas died on Sunday but friends and colleagues have vowed to continue fundraising in his name.
Nicholas’s mother, Kathleen, who he lived with, said: “What Nicholas did in Italy was amazing and there are still lots of other events going on with the charity.
“We will continue the work he started.”
Now two police officers who knew Nicholas are cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats in order to raise money for his cancer charity Nico-35.
Police Cab Inspector Frank Smith and his brother Sergeant Phil Smith will start their journey on Sunday.
The officers will cycle the 1,000 mile journey on mountain bikes, and expect to take 13 days.
Inspector Smith said: “Nick displayed immense bravery in refusing further medical treatment to allow him to spend his time raising as much sponsorship as possible for local cancer charities.
“As a result of his courageous and selfless actions, my brother and I decided to assist his cause by undertaking the Lands End to John O’Groats cycle and have gained the support and sponsorship from the Police, Council and Taxi and Private Hire Car trade in Edinburgh.”
Nicholas, an Edinburgh Council solicitor dealing with taxi and private Hire Licensing, set up his charity after being diagnosed with terminal colorectal cancer in May last year.
Rather than face more chemotherapy he decided to get on his bike and take on the formidable Gran Fondo or “big ride”.
Draining
He said in June this year, as he was about to set off for Italy: “I should be having more chemotherapy treatment just now but I decided not to.
“I know this will be my last opportunity to do the cycle. It’s simply a question of keeping going and trying to do all that I can.”
“I want to help as many people as I can and set an example to anyone who is in a similar situation.”
Fellow lawyer Anne Forsyth, who helps to run the charity, said he died at St Columba’s hospice in Edinburgh on Sunday.
She said: “It was quite draining for him towards the end. But because he was so fit the doctors were quite surprised at how long he hung in there for.
“He was cycling up until five or six weeks ago.
“He was absolutely delighted after Italy, he did it with a friend and they finished it in a reasonable time.
“They were up against fit and healthy people.”
For details of how to support his charity nico35 visit www.nico35.co.uk
