FIVE childhood friends from Nailsea are taking part in a 1,000-mile road trip in memory of their friend who died suddenly last year.

Pictured below are James Manthorp, aged 21, Sam Carter, aged 22, Pete Bell, aged 22, Dan Osborne, aged 21 and Will Downey, aged 22, who are cycling from Plymouth to Paris to raise money for CLIC Sargent, which provides specialist nurses for children suffering with cancer.

The pals are celebrating the life of their childhood friend Ty Partridge, pictured above, from Wraxall, who died from a rare type of blood cancer on August 21 last year.

James, of Eastway Square, said: “Ty died of leukaemia. It was so rare and really aggressive that he was only ill for about a week before he died. It was a real shock.”

Ty, aged 21, had just graduated from the University of York with a degree in philosophy. He was also a keen rugby player and Nailsea and Backwell Rugby Club have put up a plaque in his honour.

James said: “Ty was really thoughtful. He was a natural philosopher, he questioned everything. He was really kind-spirited and looked after everyone.

“If you were having a bad night out he would be the person who would sit down with you and try to cheer you up. You couldn’t find a more open minded, spiritual person. He was one of the nicest guys you could meet.”

His friend Sam Carter added: “You only realise how one person can have such a positive effect on so many, when you see how their passing effects so many people.”

The friends all met when they were children and attended Nailsea School together as well as going on regular camping holidays. Even though they all moved away to go to university they kept in close contact and are hoping to meet up each year to mark the anniversary of Ty’s death.

James said: “We intend to cycle through Paris on the day he died. We are staying with friends during our travels in England and then we’re planning to do a bit of everything in France by staying in a youth hostel, at a camp site, sleeping under the stars and by the side of the road.

“Ty loved camping and the outdoors and we want to go all out and have an adventure to remember him and celebrate his life.

“We’re taking cow horns and bells and we’ve got a yellow jersey for the person who wins each day.

“We picked CLIC Sargent because we think children should be able to enjoy childhood like Ty did.”

The pals set off on Monday and hope to cycle 80 miles a day, returning home on August 29. They have so far raised �1,600 for the charity. Anyone interested in donating to the cause can visit www.justgiving.com/letourdety