But, in a cruel twist of fate, the popular dad-of-two himself sadly died last year from the blood cell cancer only a few months after first falling ill.

Now family and friends are paying tribute to the'unique' figure in a way they know he would have loved - their own sponsored bike ride dubbed 'Tigathon'. All proceeds from the event will be handed over to Ward 27 at Doncaster Royal Infirmary where Tiggy was cared for in the four weeks leading up to his death.

His widow Pauline, 52, said: "Although it will be a very sad day when we remember Tiggy, the idea is also to have fun and of course raise money for a very good cause.

"It's ironic that he entered the bikeathon every year to raise money for research into leukaemia and then ended up getting it himself. We felt that because we are such a big circle of family and friends that we could really make a difference to the ward where people did their absolute best for him."

Tiggy, 55, grew up in Misson. His name was Richard but he always used his childhood nickname. During his working life, he did numerous physical jobs, latterly working at Moorlands Prison in Hatfield in general maintenance.

He was devoted to Pauline, daughters April, 30, a sales executive, and paralegal Sally, 28, and was well-known in Bawtry, Tickhill and Harworth and other villages near to his home in Scrooby. He cycled for miles barefoot and when he did wear socks they were brightly-coloured and never matched!

Early in 2007, Tiggy complained that he was feeling tired and then found a lump in his neck. A scan revealed that he had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and later, while in isolation on Ward 27 at DRI, he was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia. A week later he succumbed to pneumonia and died on May 23.

At Tiggy's funeral, donations were made in his memory that totalled £2,500 and cash was later presented to Ward 27 to pay for an electrical bed for a new isolation unit.

The bike ride, on May 17, will see Pauline, a pay roll and purchase clerk, April and Sally and Tiggy's three brothers Mick, Pete and Dave take to the saddle along with other supporters and pals from Misson's Angel Inn. The group will complete a 22-mile circular route from the pub stopping off at other locals along the way. A group of Tiggy's workmates from Moorlands are doing their own sponsored event in his memory the next day.

Sally commented: "Dad was absolutely unique. People were always drawn to him wherever he went and he was extemely well-known in the area. As well as liking to ride his bike, he was a big Manchester United fan and loved bird watching.

"He was so fit and full of life that it was hard to take in that he was ill and we were devastated when he died but he would have been so thrilled with what we are doing to remember him a year on."

Anyone who wants to make a donation to Ward 27 in memory of Tiggy is urged to send a cheque payable to Doncaster and Bassetlaw Charitable Hospital Funds, Ward 27 Trust Fund 2143, to the cashier's office at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, Armthorpe Road, Doncaster DN2 5LT.

There is no Doncaster Leukaemia Research bikathon this year but local riders are taking part in a regional event at Clumber Park this Sunday.