A GP is following in the footsteps of Hannibal and cycling over the Alps for charity.

Dr Matt Jackson, a partner at Seaford Medical Practice, aims to conquer the 520km ride over four days, starting on Saturday, in memory of his father.

He will start in Geneva, Switzerland, and finish in Milan, Italy.

He will be taking part with fellow fundraisers in the Green Army, a team of cyclists who regularly take on challenges for charity.

The ride over the Alps will raise funds for Bloodwise, a charity that funds research in blood cancers.

His father Roger, a publican in Chichester, died from a lymphoma, a type of blood cancer, aged 61.

Dr Jackson said: “Bloodwise is doing incredible work for the fight against cancer by supporting patients and funding research.

“My father died from a type of blood cancer and while he was given all the available treatments and received the best of care from the NHS, the fact is we don’t yet have the knowledge to beat these types of cancers. This is why it is so important to keep funding research. Cycling is a great way to improve your cardiac health.”

To support him, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraising/drmatthewjackson.