A team of cyclists are preparing to ride 800 miles in eight days to raise funds for a Bristol cancer hospital.

Oliver Isaacs is leading the Climb Against Cancer cycle through the most demanding stage of the Tour de France route to raise funds for the Friends of Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre.

He has spent time at the hospital with his wife Rebecca who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in February 2007.

They hope to raise £10,000 for the oncology centre through the challenge in September, which will see them complete 48,000ft of climbing.

Mr Isaacs will be joined on the cycle through the Alpe D'Huez by his brother Toby, 36 and two close friends from his school days, Steve Sprigings and Kevin Scott, both 32.

The team has already raised more than £1,400 and received generous pledges of support from local businesses including Gullivers which will be lending the team a transit van to act as a support vehicle.

Mr Isaacs, of St Anne's, said:"Our lives, like that of many others affected by cancer each year, changed forever. We quickly came to realise how vital BHOC would become in our fight against the disease."

John Miles, chairman of the Friends of BHOC, said: "We think this is an impressive challenge."