A man diagnosed with terminal cancer who has finished cycling the length of the UK was “overwhelmed by the support” of people he met on the way as he raised over £5,000 to set up his own charity.

Wanstead resident Frank Charles cycled from Land’s End to John O'Groats from May 9 to 30 as part of his long-running charity efforts, inspired by his baby son Ashley, who died at 23 months from Hirschsprung’s disease in 1989, a rare disorder of the bowel.

The 51-year-old, of Chester Road, has non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer affecting the immune system, but managed to cycle at least 16 miles a day, completing 70 miles a day on two occasions, despite his bike suffered two punctures and stepping on a screwdriver in Preston.

While he met support along the 880-mile route, Mr Charles said a struggle to find accommodation for the night in Shrewsbury on May 16 was the catalyst for extraordinary backing.

He said: “I arrived into Shrewsbury in the afternoon and there was nowhere to stay, one hotel owner was asking for £75 a night and would not budge on the price.

“I cycled around for over two hours and finally found a place to stay.

“Little did I know a man who I had met and spoken to had put an appeal online, about £2,000 of donations was raised in one night.

“As I left on Sunday morning there were about 30 to 40 people outside the house and they all cheered me on my way.

“I could not believe the support I received, it was overwhelming.”

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Frank Charles carries the Torch through Barkingside

Frank Charles carries the Olympic Torch through Barkingside in 2012.

A radio interview on BBC Shropshire followed and through Twitter appeals from his Shrewsbury supporters, he was allowed to stay for free at a four-star hotel in Perth and a five-star hotel in John O’Groats.

Since being diagnosed with cancer in 2010, the fundraiser has set up the East London Food Bank and was an Olympic torchbearer in 2012.

And this week Mr Charles was given an offer by Loughton-based Haslers accountants to make his Give a Gift Appeal, which provides presents to children in hospital wards including Whipps Cross in Leytonstone, registered as an official charity.

He said: “This was the last thing on my bucket list so I was so happy that Hasler’s agreed to sort everything out for me this week.

“The journey itself was extremely tough, I felt like giving up after the second day because I didn’t take into account how hilly it is in the south-west.

“My rucksack was too heavy too, I was taking everything but the kitchen sink.

“I did step on my screwdriver in a hotel room in Preston on May 19, it was excruciating pain and blood was everywhere but I didn’t want to rest and was on my bike the next day, within two days it had healed luckily.

“I feel great now and the journey has given me so much energy, I would recommend it to anyone.

“But looking at the map now it is unbelievable how far it is.”

To donate to Charles's cause, click here.

East London and West Essex Guardian Series: Frank Charles with Whipps staff and children

Frank Charles giving children in Whipps Cross Hospital presents for his Give a Gift Appeal.