THE TRURO father who launched a charity to help grieving parents cope with the loss of an unborn child is taking part in a gruelling 200km walk and cycle challenge visiting maternity units in the region.

Martyn Selley, of Carnon Downs, whose daughter Ella was stillborn in December, is setting off on his fund-raising dash on May 28 and hopes to cross the finish line in Truro 30 hours later.

"It's going to be tough I know - the last time I took part in a marathon all my toenails fell off - but I will have the support of my teammates," said Martyn, whose campaign, Ella's Memory, aims to raise £5,000 to pay for improvements to the Royal Cornwall Hospital's Daisy Suite.

The team of seven, including Neil Jones, from Yorkshire - who has been pledged £2,610 in sponsorship - and manager of the Vanilla bar in Truro, Mathew Roberts, along with Jason Boeuf, a watch manager from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, will set off on foot from the Lizard heading to the Helston maternity unit via Mullion and Cury.

They will then walk to Treliske via Wendron, Stithains, Carnon Downs and Playing Place. After that they will continue to St Austell via Tresillian and Probus and then onto Fowey, where the team will pick up their bikes to cycle through the coastal towns of Newquay, Perranporth, St Agnes, Porthtowan, Portreath, then onto Redurth, Lanner and back through Carnon Downs, before ending at Truro's Lemon Quay at 1pm on May 29.

Car firm Dales is providing a support vehicle to follow the team's progress and deal with any health issues that arise.

"We're hoping that the challenge will be physically gruelling enough to capture peoples' attention and encourage them to give to Ella's Memory," said Martyn, who has been given the all-clear by the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust to revamp the Daisy Suite, providing a new sofa, television, and bathroom to help parents going through the traumatic loss of an unborn child.

Martyn is also applying to the Duchy Healthcare charity asking it to match fund any cash raised by Ella's Memory.

"The charity is keen on seeing practical solutions to problems - we hope that by spending money on facilities at the Royal Cornwall they will match us pound for pound and help us fulfill our dream," said Martyn.

An Ella's Memory ball is also in the pipeline, to be held in September.

Prizes, including tickets for the rugby at Twickenham and premier football matches, have also been pledged to help raise further funds. Anyone wishing to donate can go to the computer web link:

justgiving.com/ ellas-memory200kmchallenge or visit their the website, ellasmemory.org.uk