A KEEN cyclist was given the perfect send-off when fellow riders joined his funeral procession.

Neil Harwood, 36, was in training for an epic 2,745-mile bike ride when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour two years ago.

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He died at East Lancashire Hospice, leaving behind his wife, Suzie, baby son Ted, mum Marlene, brother Lee and sister Emma. His dad, Jim, died last year, also from cancer.

His brother Lee, 39, said it was a fitting tribute.

He said: “He loved to go out riding with his mates and had ridden for a team in the past.

“He was training to do the Tour Divide – a continuous long-distance ride from Banff in Alberta, Canada, to Antelope Wells, New Mexico – when he got diagnosed.

“Sadly he wasn’t able to do it but biking was his life.”

Neil’s funeral left his mum’s home at 12.30pm yesterday and about 100 cyclists followed the procession to St Peter’s Church. Committal was at Pleasington.

Neil, of Moor Lane, was a former pupil of Ashleigh Primary and Darwen Moorland High schools.

He went on to Blackburn College where he studied IT, and worked for the NHS in Blackburn as an IT manager.

Paying tribute to his younger brother, Lee said: “He was a gentle giant. He was 6ft5 or 6ft6 so he was a big lad.

“He had a heart of gold and would do anything for anyone.

“I know people always say nice things about people after they die, but people used to say nice things about Neil all the time.

“He had a wicked sense of humour. I am a lot shorter than him and he was endlessly ribbing me for that.

“It is awful that he has gone so young.”

Lee added that staff at the hospice had been ‘brilliant’.

For people wishing to make a donation in memory of Neil, donations for East Lancashire Hospice and charity Brainstrust can be made via Darwen Funeral Services in Blackburn Road.