The family of a fund-raising fanatic who is cycling from South to North America say he is in 'fine spirits' despite contracting salmonella poisoning while in the desert and spending New Year's Eve in Peru being ill.

Trevor Lund, 31, pledged to travel 14,000 miles from South America to the most northerly point in North America to raise money for the Marie Curie cancer charity and set off on his travels last September.

The second year ecology student from Bradford University, who cycled through Argentina, Chile and Bolivia before reaching Peru, said: "I forced myself out of bed on New Year's Eve and was well looked after but unable to drink.

"There were thousands of people in the square, thousands of fireworks going off all night and travellers and locals celebrating together."

But his progress had been hampered by ill-health. He sent an e-mail describing how the loneliness was taking its toll even though the locals were very friendly.

He said: "Temperatures dropped very low some nights, water froze inside my tent and I had some problems adjusting to the altitude with pounding headaches, nausea and breathlessness."

But there have been bonuses on the marathon journey which sees Mr Lund averaging about 100 miles per day.

"There has been lots of admiration as I've cycled through and I've been interviewed on two radio stations.

"Unfortunately, 24 hours after my arrival in Valparaiso, West of Santiago, I was suffering from salmonella poisoning and truly feared for my life, I was so violently ill."

Mr Lund, who has pedalled a total of nearly 5,000 miles and is on his way to Lima, is expected to reach his destination of either Barrow in Alaska or Inuvik in Canada in about June.

His parents, Raymond and Anne Lund, from Stanningley, said they were very proud. They said they were delighted he was able to keep in touch by e-mail.

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