OLYMPIC gold medallist Chris Boardman is urging Globe readers to sign up for Wirral's 15th charity Bikeathon. 

Proceeds from the event, taking place on June 15, will help fund research into leukaemia and lymphoma.

Last year, 1514 people got on their bikes for the Globe-backed event in Arrowe Country Park, helping raise £66,000.

Among those taking part was Hoylake-born Chris, who is a patron of the Bikeathon.

He  said: "The Wirral Bikeathon is a fantastic way for cyclists to enjoy the Wirral countryside at the same time as raising money for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research's drive to beat blood cancers."

The sportsman - who took Britain's opening Gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and later won three stages of the Tour de France - continued: "We had a record year in 2013, with over 1500 participants helping us raise over £54,000 and we would like to do even better this year so that we can break through a big milestone in the Bikeathon story – raising over £3/4 million in the16 years since it started.”

Cyclists, aged eight and upwards, can take either the 15 mile or 28 mile route starting and ending in Arrowe Country Park.

On the day there will be entertaiment from The Peninsula Jazzmen and Dave Stubbs with his Fairground Organ.

The event was first held in 1999 and has gone on to raise £680,000 for the charity. It is organised entirely by a small group of local volunteers with help on the day from around 100 marshalls and supporters.

To sign up for this year's event, visit www.wirralbikeathon.com

More details are from www.facebook.com/wirralbikeathon