Bob Paterson often talks to his son Dale when he is out cycling.

He finds it is one of the only times he feels close to him, because he is no longer around.

Such precious father-son moments were snatched away from the Oxford firefighter when 13-year-old Dale was killed in a car crash on August 18, 2005.

As Mr Paterson struggles to come to terms with the unimaginable, he has channelled his grief into something positive by organising a Ride for Life'.

The trip will see him and colleagues Owen Pates and Steve Jordan cycle from Land's End to John O'Groats from June 1-18, giving school talks along the way about seatbelt safety.

Of the many people killed on Oxfordshire's roads last year, at least nine hadn't belted up and that was a contributory factor in their deaths.

Seatbelt safety is particularly important for Mr Paterson as Dale was not wearing his properly when the accident happened in Italy with his mother Helen and brother Jack.

Earlier this year, driver Richard Bianchini, from Cowley, Oxford - Dale's mother's boyfriend - received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for five years, and was disqualified from driving for five months.

He was over the drink-drive limit.

Mr Paterson said: "After coming back from Italy, I got on my bike and started riding. It was always a link with Dale -when I used to run, he used to cycle alongside me.

"I don't get any comfort from visiting his grave, so I often talk to Dale when I'm out on my bike."

Mr Paterson, 47, wants to spare other parents across the country the pain he has been through.

He said: "I urge everyone, including every parent to check their kids, to clunk-click every trip.

"My son has paid the ultimate price of losing his life because he did not wear his belt correctly.

"Please value your lives and your children's - the heartache of knowing I will never see and hug Dale again hurts every day."

The three-week challenge is part of 365 Alive, a campaign by Oxfordshire County Council's Fire and Rescue Service, which aims to save 365 lives over the next 10 years from road accidents and fires.

Money raised will go to the Fire Services National Benevolent Fund - Dale's favourite charity.

During the school visits, Mr Paterson and his colleagues will give a presentation about road and seatbelt safety, and there are plans to screen a DVD created by Dale's friends from John Mason School in Abingdon.

They will also be holding several campaign days in Oxford in June, including a visit to Dale's old school in Abingdon.

The team will be writing an online diary during the trip and Mr Paterson, who has three other children, Jon, 21, Jack, 14, and Hayley, 19, hopes to write a book about the experience.

The firefighters are now appealing to the public and businesses to support the project.

They need about £10,000 to fund the trip, and they are calling on anyone who can help to lend a hand.

Mandy Rigault, from the council's road safety team, said: "Often young people don't wear seatbelts, or at least not properly.

"It is quite a big problem for us so anything we can do to raise awareness is a good thing."

Anyone who wants to join them on the trip, which will be in three stages, or people keen to donate should email bob.paterson@oxfordshire.gov.uk or visit www.cycle4seatbelts.co.uk