A FORMER cycling champion from Bromsgrove is set to raise money for charity when he competes in his first race since being treated for cancer.

Jim Varnish, aged 36, of Rutherford Road, Aston Fields, who was world cycling speedway champion in 1985, was diagnosed 12 months ago with Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymph glands.

After six months of "horrendous" chemotherapy and a month of radiotherapy he is back in the saddle to raise money for the Leukaemia Research Fund.

The story of Lance Armstrong, who won the Tour de France for the last two years after recovering from cancer, was an inspiration.

Jim, who is married with three children, said: "I hope to do the same for other people on a local level. Every day people are diagnosed with these diseases. What I want is be an inspiration to other people."

The five-mile race, at Halesowen Cycling Club, next Friday, means Jim will not have gone a whole year without racing. There will be a charity collection afterwards.

"It signals the end of a really hard year of my life," he said.

A trip to Australia, where he won his championship, is planned and Jim intends to start a cyclists' coaching course. He also intends to be fully fit and ready to race for the new season in March.

"I'm like a horse that's been in the stable for six months. I just want to get out and gallop! It's like a second life," he said.

Jim said being an athlete helped him cope with his ordeal. "It's not just being physically strong, it's being mentally strong. My attitude comes from my sport," he said. The charity race will be a good chance to say thank you to all the people who've supported me," he said.