A Branston cyclist is rounding off the challenge of a lifetime this weekend in memory of his football mad daughter. Ian Leech will be completing a gruelling trek of more than 600 miles in the saddle when he arrives at Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium as the football club's kicks off its first game in the Championship against Cardiff City.

He has cycled more than 610 miles, since May, travelling to 30 football stadiums in honour of his daughter Mel who would have celebrated her 30 birthday this month.

Mel died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2008 at the age of 20 and since then Ian, who is community engagement manager for St Giles Hospice, has raised thousands of pounds for charity in her memory.

To mark her birthday he will be finishing the cycle ride from Liverpool’s Anfield stadium to Burton Albion on Saturday, August 5. He plans to set off off at 6am with the intention of arriving at half time during the match.

Ian has so far cycled to 27 football clubs in the Midlands and at the weekend will visit grounds 28, 29 and 30. He has said the challenge has been full of memories.

He said: "Mel was a huge football fan and so many of the grounds I have visited are ones we went to together, so there were lots of happy and emotional moments along the way."

Ian Leech is pictured with daughter Mel, who died at the age of 20

Ian’s challenge started at Wolverhampton Wanderers on the last day of the Championship season on May 7 and since then he has cycled a total of 610.29 miles, spent 43 hours and 40 minutes in the saddle and burned 41,390 calories in the process.

His last day of riding will take him from Anfield via Everton and more than 101 miles to finish off the challenge at Burton Albion.

He said: "Mel was a huge Liverpool fan which caused some healthy rivalry as I am an Everton fan, but we both loved watching Burton Albion play, which was a good compromise and will be a fitting finish to the ride."

Ian, who is fund-raising for St Giles Hospice, regularly supports people affected by bereavement and grief as part of his work in community engagement and shares his experiences of the impact of Mel’s.

He said: "It is incredibly important that as a community, we give people dealing with bereavement and loss the support that they need, at home, in the community and at work.

"At St Giles, we provide a 'safety net' for people through our Bereavement Help Points and our work with schools, organisations and communities to encourage open conversations about death and dying.

Ian is hoping to raise funds for St Gile's Hospice in his daughter Mel's memory

"Mel dying has had a massive effect on our family and we live with the impact of that every day. I hope the Mel’s 30 ride and sharing our story will not only raise money for St Giles, but will also raise awareness of the impact of bereavement and the support that’s available for people who are grieving."

A St Giles team will be collecting for the hospice at the match and players will warm up in St Giles t-shirts to raise awareness of the charity’s new brand.

St Giles is based in Whittington and helps people with cancer and other serious illnesses. It covers the Burton area.

Inspirational Ian has raised more than £35,000 for charities

Since the tragic loss of his daughter, Ian has hit the headlines with his constant campaigning and fund-raising.

Ian has walked across Wales in a single day, held the Olympic torch and completed a gruelling cross-channel cycle ride, during which his bike broke, all in Mel’s name, raising more than £35,000 for Mel’s Tribute Fund and the Lymphoma Association.

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