A YORK nurse is to get on his bike and cycle across America to help people with diabetes.

Paul Dromgoole, from Everingham, near Pocklington, is a diabetes specialist nurse at York Hospital. He is going to the American Diabetes Conference on June 14 - but he has to cycle 650 miles to get there first.

Paul will start the gruelling ride in Nashville, Tennessee, and he will only stop cycling when he reaches the conference in New Orleans.

The cash raised from the sponsored cycle will go towards insulin pumps, which can enable people with diabetes to live fuller lives.

He said: "The latest insulin pumps can make a dramatic difference to the lives of those with insulin deficiency, especially children.

"They continually pump insulin over a 24-hour period, and are highly adjustable according to changes such as food or exercise. They can radically transform the lives of people who are at risk of accident and injury due to hypoglycaemia, in some cases enabling people to hold down jobs who would not otherwise be able to do so."

The pumps cost £2,000 each and cost up to £1,000 a year to run and so far only two people at York Hospital are able to use them.

Paul, who coaches Pocklington Rugby Club's under tens, will have to cycle an average of 100 miles a day to complete the ride. A former racing cyclist, he is training hard for the mammoth trip by cycling between his home in Everingham and the hospital two or three times a week and taking part in rugby training sessions.

The cost of Paul's trip has been paid by insulin producer, Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals and Neil Dexter, owner of Wheelies Cycles in Pocklington will loan Paul his own racing bike for the trip.

Anyone interested in sponsoring Paul can phone him at work on 01904 726510, at home on 01430 860973 or email him at:

paul.dromgoole@york.nhs.uk

Updated: 09:42 Friday, May 23, 2003