Matt Kelly's Valentine's Day meal was not as romantic as he had hoped - after he got a phone call explaining he needed emergency cancer surgery the next morning.

Mr Kelly, 28, from Summertown, Oxford, had undergone an ultrasound test at the Churchill Hospital earlier that day but decided to go ahead with the dinner-for-two with fianceé Catherine, 27, at The Perch pub, in Binsey.

As they were about to dine, Mr Kelly received a phone call saying the test results indicated that he needed surgery the next day.

"The diagnosis certainly put a bit of a downer on our Valentine's Day meal but we had booked it a while before, so we decided to go ahead," said Mr Kelly, who is a cancer researcher at Oxford University's engineering science department.

He added: "When I got the phone call early in the evening, we had to bring the time of the meal forward, so there would be a decent gap before surgery."

The operation to remove a testicle, in February 2005, was a success and Mr Kelly is now in remission, although he will not be given the all clear until 2010.

But he is feeling well enough to attempt the Three Peaks Challenge in September and, and inspired by American cyclist Lance Armstrong, who also survived the disease and went on to win the Tour de France seven years running, will cycle a total of about 500 miles between Ben Nevis in Scotland, Scafell Pike in the Lake District and Snowdon in North Wales.

"I'm setting off on September 10, starting at Ben Nevis, and it should take me about five days," said Mr Kelly, who is raising money for Cancer Research UK.

He went to see his GP after noticing a lump on his testicle and was referred for a check-up at the Churchill Hospital, where tests discovered the cancer.

He added: "Some men might feel embarrassed about going to the doctor, but they must seek medical help, because the sooner the disease is caught, the better, and I was lucky they caught it at an early stage.

"Once the diagnosis has been made, the embarrassment factor goes, because you have much more important things on your mind.

"When I was told I had testicular cancer I was shocked, Catherine was shocked, everyone was. Testicular cancer is very rare.

"The day after I handed in my PhD thesis I noticed a lump and went to see my GP, and I'm very glad I did.

"My advice is 'don't ignore it' and push for a referral to hospital if you're in any doubt that something is wrong."

Mr Kelly added that sperm count tests carried out after the operation indicated that he and his wife will be able to conceive naturally.

Mr Kelly and Catherine married in South Wales last September, after he proposed while the couple were climbing a mountain in Snowdonia.

He added: "We both enjoy climbing the hills, but we have never made it to the top of Snowdon, so I'm really looking forward to it."

Mr Kelly is hoping to raise about £1,000 for charity. To sponsor, see www.justgiving.com/ 3peaksAndABikeRide