A TUBE manager who cycled the Central Line in memory of a colleague said seeing his family’s faces at the end “made it all worth it”.

London Underground project manager Marc Perry and three others from Hainault Depot undertook the gruelling challenge of cycling 37.4 miles along the Central Line on Sunday (September 25).

They were one of 12 teams who cycled the length of each Tube line to mark the first anniversary of their colleague Steve Lloyd’s death.

The 40-year-old father-of-two from Essex worked for London Underground for 22 years before he lost his battle against an aggressive brain tumour last year.

Before he died Steve managed to take part in a sponsored cycle of the District Line for Brain Tumour Research, but this year’s event was the first without him.

Marc and his colleagues Brad, Russell and Sean started their journey at Epping, heading down to Buckhurst Hill, before going across to Woodford, then back to Chigwell, down to Redbridge, up again to South Woodford through to Wanstead and Leytonstone, finally finishing at Bank.

The father-of-three from Romford said: “Steve was a colleague of mine and we were very similar in many ways.

“He spent most of his career on the District Line and me on the Central Line.

“We both have young children as well, so what happened to him really brings it home.”

Marc admitted he “isn’t an experienced cyclist” like his three co-workers are, and said 37.4 miles in five hours was not easy.

He added: “We were on Boris Bikes and they are so heavy, it was really challenging.

"But when we got to the end and saw the look on Steve’s wife and children’s faces, it made it all worth it.”

All 12 teams met at a pub in Tower Hill where Steve’s wife Angela, 37, and daughters Bethany, 13 and Chloe, 11, were waiting.

Angela, who rode part of the District Line with Team Upminster, said: “The last year has been very tough for us and this is such positive way of remembering Steve and celebrating his life.

“He would have been so chuffed to see how many people are still thinking about him.

“Steve had only just turned 40 when we lost him.

“He fought for seven years after being diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a very aggressive brain tumour.

“He underwent lengthy treatment but, in the end, there was nothing that could save him.

“We remain determined to do all we can to raise awareness of brain tumours that kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.”

Sunday’s cycle has already raised £20,000, which could fund over a week’s worth of research into finding a cure for brain tumours.

To donate £5 to Brain Tumour Research in support of the One London Charity Cycle Challenge text CURE35 £5 to 70070.