THE mother of charity cyclist Robin Chard said she has been humbled by the flood of donations to Cancer Research UK following his death.

Monika Chard thanked everyone who has helped raise more than £65,000 on Mr Chard's JustGiving page following his death during the RideLondon-Surrey 100 mile cycle challenge last month.

The IT worker will be laid to rest at Oxford Crematorium on August 23 in an "unconventional" ceremony featuring pop songs.

Mrs Chard, from Oxford, said: "It is quite humbling and very helpful in a way because there have been some very nice messages about Robin left on the JustGiving page.

"I think after the funeral there will be even more, we think with gift aid we will raise a lot more.

"It is unbelievable, we just could not believe it.

"We have had donations from Hong Kong, from Amsterdam, from America, it is incredible."

Mr Chard, 48, had a cardiac arrest 25 miles in to the RideLondon-Surrey event on July 31 and died later in Kingston Hospital.

He had set himself the target of raising £400 for Cancer Research UK before the race and had brought in more than £700 by the time he set off.

But donations to his page skyrocketed following his death.

Mrs Chard, 75, said: "Robin was a very generous man. He would buy his family big presents and he looked after my laptop all the time.

"He did a lot for cancer charities but this was the first sponsored cycle he had done.

"Unfortunately it was not to be."

Mr Chard's father Edwin, his mother's long-term partner and his mother-in-law all died from cancer and he suffered from the disease as a youngster.

The tragedies inspired him to take on the cycling challenge which saw thousands of riders leave London and travel through the Surrey countryside before returning to the capital.

His funeral is open to all who want to attend and will start at 2pm at the crematorium in Barton.

Mrs Chard said: "There will be give speakers talking about Robin and the whole service will be very unconventional.

"There will be pop songs, he would appreciate that.

"It will be very lighthearted because Robin was a very fun-loving, lighthearted guy.

"I do not think we have to ask for as many people as possible to come as there will be a lot anyway.

"It will be an opportunity to say goodbye."

The family have asked for mourners not to send flowers but to instead donate money to the British Heart Foundation.

To donate to Mr Chard's JustGiving page for Cancer Research UK visit justgiving.com/fundraising/robin-chard