For most newly-weds, their honeymoon is expected be a time of romance and luxury - but not Karen White.

Although the 27-year-old from Kidlington is off to Paris - the city of romance - she will devote the first few days of wedded bliss to travelling there on a gruelling 450km cycle ride - without her new husband Tony East.

It may seem a strange choice. But the ride is in aid of a charity which has helped care for the couple's two-year-old son Luke, who suffers from an incurable liver disease.

Miss White, of Rowan Close, said: "For most brides, their honeymoon is a time for pampering, visiting exotic locations and spending time with their new husbands and mine will be very different to that.

"I'm spending so much time concentrating on training at the moment that the wedding plans are going to pot."

Publishing manager Miss White and Mr East, who is a carpenter, will tie the knot in Steeple Aston on Saturday.

Days later, she will saddle up to join other fundraisers and cycle 130km a day from London to Paris.

Meanwhile, Mr East will stay at home to look after Luke, who is only alive today after undergoing a major operation three weeks after he was born.

Miss White has already raised more than £2,000, which will go to the Children's Liver Disease Foundation.

The charity has provided Luke and his parents with care and support since he was born.

The money Miss White raises will go towards helping to keep alive Luke and other children diagnosed with liver disease.

Miss White said: "I'm in a mad dash, but it doesn't bother us. Tony doesn't mind. I think he would quite like to do it himself.

"I think Luke would think we're crazy - a lot of my friends and family think I'm a bit of a nutter for doing it."

In recent months, she has been out for training rides on her bike at least three times a week.

The sponsored ride starts in Greenwich on Sunday, June 13, and finishes at the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, three days later.

She said: "When Luke was diagnosed, our world was blown apart. Thankfully, we met CLDF family support officers while in hospital and they have continued to provide information and advice ever since.

"At the moment, Luke is living life to the full and is great fun. However, it's always in the back of our minds that he could face a transplant.

"It is through their research that Luke was operated on and was able to survive. Without surgery, he wouldn't be here.

"This cycle ride will be the longest time I have been away from my son. I have never left him for more than a day."

Luke was diagnosed with biliary atresia and was operated on when he was three weeks old, but he could require a liver transplant if his condition worsens.

The couple will not be getting wedding presents and have asked their guests to donate money to the charity instead.