HELICOPTER pilot Luke Ponsonby will be attempting his first triathlon next month in a bid to give back to the charity and hospital that helped him overcome blood cancer.

The 28-year-old, from High Street, Sutton Veny, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in 2013 while working in Italy and underwent a stem cell transplant from his twin sister, Checca.

But after almost three years of being in remission, the freelance helicopter pilot will be taking part in the Blenheim Palace Triathlon, Woodstock, on June 14, in aid of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research.

He said: “This will be my first time doing a triathlon and I’m pretty nervous about it. I’ve been training on and off over the winter and I hadn’t swam for quite a while but I think running will be the hardest part of it because I’m just useless at it.

“I’ve never done anything like this before although I did a bike ride from London to Varese in Italy where I was treated.

“I didn’t want to do another bike ride as it’s about me challenging myself and it’s a natural progression by doing a triathlon.

“It’s very much a different challenge to battling cancer though, I have a choice to get out of bed and go for a run but I didn’t have a choice with the cancer and had to grin and bear it.”

Mr Ponsonby first noticed the symptoms of blood cancer over several weeks, which ranged from a rash, exhaustion and nose bleeds, but believed it to be flu until he visited a GP in Varese, Italy.

It was there he discovered he had the illness, which affects almost 38,000 people a year, and is why Mr Ponsonby is also raising money for the hospital where he was treated.

“It was pretty tough not only going through the chemotherapy but having my treatment in Italy as I don’t really speak the language and most of my family were back in the UK,” Mr Ponsonby added.

“So it was difficult and I didn’t really know what was happening but they were great and why I want to help raise money for them.

“I want to show people that overcoming blood cancer can be done and that you can lead a normal life after it as at the time you can’t really see past your own room so I hope I can inspire anybody going through the same.”

To make a donation to Mr Ponsonby, visit https://www.justgiving.com/luke-Ponsonby/