OLYMPIC cycling legend Chris Boardman has boosted a Wirral woman's fundraising efforts for Leukaemia & Lymphoma research by rewarding her most generous sponsor with a bike.

The Gold-medal-winning pursuit cyclist, from Hoylake, offered the bike as a prize for the largest donation towards the fundraising efforts of Katie Palmer, who undertook two cycling challenges for the charity after her father was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in May.

By completing the Wirral Bikeathon and the 56-mile Liverpool-Chester-Liverpool bike ride last month, Katie, together with sister Suzanne, and their partners, Tom and Jay have so far raised a fantastic total of more than £2,300 for the charity's research into better treatments and cures for all blood cancers.

Katie, 23, joined Chris at the Southport Branch of Halfords to present the bike to cycling enthusiast, Simon Nicholl, who won the bike by making the largest single donation of £475.

Katie, who works for Merseyside Fire Service, said: "It's great that someone who has no connection with our family can give such fantastic support.

"When I found out Dad had lymphoma I wanted to support him and other patients by fundraising for Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

Chris Boardman, a friend of the Palmer family, said: "I think it's great that people like Katie deal with adversity in this way.

"It was a pleasure to be part of her fundraising. Blood cancers touch so many people's lives and it's important that we do everything we can.

"I'm glad I could help by donating the bike and intend to continue supporting the vital work of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research."

To support Team Palmer, visit their justgiving page at www.justgiving.com/team_palmer Money raised will help invest in life-saving research to find better treatments and cures for leukaemia, lymphoma and myeloma.