The uncle of an eight-year-old boy who died suddenly last year, has completed a 160-mile bike ride in his memory.

Taking advantage of the warm weather last week, Chris Fidler pulled on a Spiderman costume, hopped on his bike and cycled the grueling journey.

The two-day saddle ride from Somerset to Kings Langley not only prompted tears and cheers at the finishing post on Friday, but raised more than £5,000 for KitAid, a local football charity.

The ride was inspired by Mr Fidler’s nephew Charlie, who lost his life in June last year, following a severe allergic reaction.

Mr Fidler, who works for an engineering company in Kings Langley, explained: “I cycled for Charlie to show how much we all love him.

“It was a hard journey, but I kept thinking of Charlie along the way and that kept me going.

“Raising money for KitAid was what he would have wanted and I wore Spiderman and Batman costumes as Charlie loved dressing up when he was little.”

Arsenal fan Charlie, from Hemel Hempstead, was a keen and talented football player and part of the Hemel Hempstead Town Youth team. In the hours before he died, he had been awarded “the most improved player of the year”.

Just one week before his death, Charlie had read a story about KitAid, inspiring him to collect unwanted football kit for children in need around the world.

Nicole Fidler said: “Charlie had been looking at the front-page story about KitAid’s work in Africa and said ‘mummy isn’t that great?”

“He thought it was a lovely idea that unwanted football kit would be sent to children in need around the world.

“Charlie was a very loving and giving little boy, so we are doing what he would have wished. “Perhaps one day we will go and visit a KitAid project and see the joy that this raised money has given to children who have so little."

Mr Fidler, who celebrated the end of his ride with a pint of Guinness at the Rose and Crown in Kings Langley, remarked it had been an emotional bike ride, but he was delighted his marathon efforts would benefit other children.

KitAid was founded in 1998 with the aim of providing children around the globe with football kit, and encouraging communities to come together through soccer.

For further information on KitAid visit: www.kitaid.blogspot.com or www.veoliawater.co.uk/kitaid To donate to Charlie’s bike ride visit: www.virginmoneygiving.com/chrisfidler