A WIRRAL cyclist's return to a beach in South-eastern Spain has raised thousands of pounds for a charity set up in his wife's memory.

Keith Dawson set off from Wirral Hospice St John's on June 25 for a 750-mile trip to what he calls 'Julie's beach' in the town of Benicassim.

His wife Julie Mountford died last year. The resort has special significance to Keith, as this is where Julie last walked on sand and last swim in the sea in October, 2014.

The trek raised £3,500 for The Julie Mountford Dawson Foundation, a charity he established to honour Julie and which raise funds for services that help people who are living with cancer.

Wirral Globe:

Thanking our readers for their support, Keith (pictured, above, with Julie) told the Globe: "My main intention in setting up the foundation, and embarking upon my ride back to Julie’s beach, was to keep Julie’s memory alive.

"But raising funds to help people living with cancer can only be a good thing, and I am so grateful to everyone who has made a donation to the foundation, no matter how big or small.

"Thank you – from me, and from Julie."

Wirral Globe:

Keith pictured with wife Julie, who died last year 

Julie was born in Birkenhead, where her mum and many of her relatives still live, and lived on the Wirral for the vast majority of her life.

After completing a degree in psychology, Julie qualified as a social worker and spent her working life helping others.

She worked mainly as a mental health social worker in Wirral and Cheshire, and was also a senior manager in the NHS.

Paying tribute to Julie, Keith continued: "Julie will live on in the hearts of all of those people whose lives she touched with such positive energy and grace; her family, her friends, and the people that used the health and social services that Julie devoted so much of her life to.

"The Julie Mountford Dawson Foundation is just one practical way in which Julie's love and positive energy can live on."

Further information about the foundation, and Keith’s ride, can be found at juliemountford.org