A PASSIONATE pub-goer will cycle 190 miles to bring back a special bottle of beer in memory of a pal who died from brain cancer.

Tim Nash, 57, first met Keira Dixon, 21, at the Bell Inn, in Castle Hedingham, and they also worked together several times during the pub’s annual summer beer festival.

The friends bonded over a mutual love for different types of beer and pubs.

After learning about Keira’s admiration for Sheffield Wednesday FC, Tim suggested they should try a bottle of the Championship side’s official tipple – called ‘The Wednesday’.

But before they had the chance, Keira, who was diagnosed with the life-threatening disease at the age of 16, died after battling the illness for just over four years.

Tim, of Queen Street, Sible Hedingham, said: “I felt a huge sadness when I found out, but sadly it wasn’t a surprise because we knew how incredibly ill she was.

“That doesn’t take away from the incredible sadness of the loss of a young life that isn’t there anymore.

“I went to her funeral back in November and the thing that struck me the most was the stories that were being told about what an interesting, exciting and fun-loving young person she was, who should have had her whole life ahead of her.”

Tim is now planning to cycle from the football club’s famous Hillsborough stadium to the Bell Inn, to bring home a bottle of the tipple in Keira’s memory and raise money for St Helena Hospice, which supported Keira and her family.

The fundraising pilgrimage will see Tim cycle nearly 190 miles over five days and make several stop-offs at various pubs, hotels and breweries along the way, as he tries to raise a total of £3,000 for the charity.

Tim, who has already raised 50 percent of his target, said: “Brain cancer is a dreadful disease and we need to make sure we raise awareness about it, so doing this just seemed to make sense.

“There are still a few bits that need putting together to make sure it all goes off without a hitch, but we have most things in place.

“It will work out about 40 miles a day, which isn’t a huge distance, but it should be a very pleasant ride and a good five days.”

Tim will start his ride from Sheffield on July 13 and hopes to arrive at the Bell by July 17.

To donate to the fundraising campaign visit justgiving.com/fundraising/hillsborough-to- hedingham.