AN intrepid father and daughter from York are taking on the challenge of a lifetime as they prepare to motorbike across Europe this summer.

Richard and Emma Dearlove, of Clifton Moor, have a very good reason to raise money for children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent, which is launching the challenge.

Emma, now 20, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when she was only three. She underwent two years of chemotherapy and was given the all-clear in 1996.

Now Emma and her dad want to give something back to the charity which helped them cope with the illness by raising thousands in this summer's 1,800-mile trek.

The pair are embarking on the Barry Sheene Memorial Challenge, which is being ridden in memory of the former world motorcycling champion, who died of cancer in 2003.

"The reason why we decided to do it was that it involved my hobby - which is motorcycles - and it helps us give something back to CLIC Sargent," explained Richard.

"Emma and myself feel very strongly that they helped us out, now it's up to us to help them out to provide for kids in the same situation as Emma was in."

Emma was diagnosed with her illness after her teacher noticed she was not joining in with the other children at playschool one day.

"It was a tremendous shock," said Richard. "When you're first told, the walls come in on you. It's one of those things that you never expect to be told about your child."

Emma spent the following years in and out of St James's Hospital, in Leeds, being treated for her illness. Today, she is working at Acorn Nursery, in York, after studying for a child care qualification at York College.

"I'm doing this because it's interesting to me. It's something I've always wanted to do," said Emma. "I did the Race For Life last year and I wanted to do something a bit more challenging."

The pair will travel on the same bike, with Emma riding pillion. The trek sets off from Brands Hatch on June 17, and riders will cover a mammoth 300 miles a day.

To donate to their cause, log on to www.justgiving.com/richarddearlove.

Updated: 10:11 Thursday, March 16, 2006