A Birmingham restaurant manager is determined to overcome a major knee and leg operation to cycle 640 miles to three capital cities to raise £10,000 for a Midland hospice.

Keen cyclist Fino Palmeri, from Bromsgrove, is manager of TGI Fridays in Sutton Coldfield and aims to cycle from Cardiff Castle to Edinburgh Castle, via London, in aid of St Richard’s Hospice in Worcester.

Mr Palmeri’s father Tony, who is 86 and lives in Worcester, has stomach cancer and is supported by a St Richard’s Nurse Specialist at home.

The 42-year-old, pictured, has been forced off his bike through injury for the last two months and is now training on a static bike to boost his fitness ready for the challenge in July.

“I met Bernie Fisher the St Richard’s nurse specialist and she was fantastic,” Mr Palmeri said.

“I wanted to raise as much money as I can for St Richard’s as a thank you for the care and compassion they give.”