AN OXFORD scientist will take on a 100-mile cycling challenge after losing an incredible 17 stone.

Jason Southgate, 39, is be part of this year’s Prudential RideLondon to raise money for Diabetes UK.

The father-of-two from Abingdon was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2010 said: “Weighing nearly 30 stone at the time of my diabetes diagnosis, I tried various weight loss clubs before eventually deciding to have gastric bypass surgery in 2013 with the help of the team at the Oxford Bariatric Support Group and the Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology & Metabolism.

"I’m so grateful. It’s given me a new lease of life. Once I lost enough weight, I got back into riding in 2015 and have maintained my active lifestyle while carefully watching what I eat.

"Today, four years on, I am 13 stone, I require no medication and my diabetes has gone into remission.”

There are an estimated 4.6m people living with diabetes in the UK and about 90 per cent have Type 2 diabetes, meaning their bodies don't produce enough insulin. Family history, age, ethnicity and weight all impact the risk.

Mr Southgate, who works as a calibration scientist in Oxford, on July 29 will cycle the RideLondon route, which starts at the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London, heads out to the Surrey Hills and then returns for a finish on The Mall in central London.

He has had to overcome injury to be ready for the event, saying: “As a member of the Abingdon Freewheeling and Abingdon Race Team, I cycle an average 5-8 hours a week.

"Training for the challenge had been going well, until I had a nasty fall on the bike a couple of weeks ago and dislocated my collar bone.

"Since then it’s been a race to get fit, but luckily I’ve recovered quicker than expected and just had the all-clear from the doctor that I can still go ahead with next week’s ride. My target is £525 but I’m on track to raise much more.”

To donate to his justgiving.com/fundraising/jay-ridelondon2018