A DAD was inspired to raise thousands of pounds for a diabetes charity after his son was diagnosed with the condition.

And through a cycle ride across northern Europe and a string of other fundraising events, Charlie Dunn raised more than £17,000 for JDRF - the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Charlie, 30, called on the help of his brothers John, 35, Eddie, 44 and pals David Staff, 31, and Paul Humphrey, 31, and the quintet rode through six countries over the course of just one week - finishing in Luxembourg - to raise the sum.

At nine-months-old, Frank Dunn was one of the youngest in Essex to be diagnosed with type one diabetes. It was then that Charlie, a police officer who lives in Heath View Road, Grays, decided he wanted to help raise funds for JDRF, who fund research to cure, treat and prevent type one diabetes.

Charlie told the Gazette: “Frank has to be checked every couple of hours. Since he was diagnosed, it’s changed out lives and become a big part of it. And it’s certainly had and will have a big impact on his life. He can’t have any snacks or treats.

“By the time he’s 18, he’ll have had 32,000 injections and 60,000 blood tests.”

Charlie hopes that his fundraising will help play a small part in contributing to JDRF’s research into diabetes - which in turn, could help improve the lives of youngsters like Charlie, who is now almost two-years-old, who are living with the condition.

“I looked at all the different things we could do to raise money. The 500-mile bike ride through six different countries in six days seemed a bit different.”

The team set off from Orsett Hall in April and returned to the venue a week later.

“The ride was really good, it went really well. It was tough going through six countries in six days, but we really enjoyed it.”

£17,114.93 - £7,000 more than Charlie’s original target - raised through sponsorship and 12 events in the build-up, was handed to JDRF last week.

You can still donate to the cause by visiting: https://www.justgiving.com/JDRFluxembourgcycle/.