Cancer fundraiser's Vietnam plan gets stuck in Hitchin

James Bertin's plans to raise thousands of pounds in memory of his friend have been wrecked by a bike thief. Credit: Brain Tumour charity

A cancer fundraiser planning to cycle across Vietnam in memory of his best friend is stuck in Hitchin after a thief stole his bike.

James Bertin is planning to ride 400km across Vietnam next month to raise money for research into better treatments for brain tumours.

James's friend and university housemate Iain Twigg died of an aggressive tumour in 2014.

But now his preparations are in pieces after a thief stole his red and black 27-gear Giant Rapid bike from the cycle racks outside Hitchin station.

“Preparations for my Vietnam trip were going well. I was getting out and doing some big training rides, so it is a body blow to have my bike stolen now.

"It will take weeks for the insurance money to come through – it’s registered, so I am just hoping the police might be able to recover it."