Former England footballer Geoff Thomas is preparing to cycle the gruelling Tour de France course for a second time in a bid to raise up to £1 million to help the Centre for Clinical Haematology (CCH) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham (QEHB).

In 2003 Geoff was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia and was given less than three months to live.

Following treatment from Cure Leukaemia co-founder Professor Charlie Craddock at the Birmingham unit, including a bone marrow transplant from his sister, he has been in remission since January 2005.

Six months after his treatment, Geoff set himself the challenge of cycling the Tour de France 2005 route two days ahead of the race. He succeeded and subsequently wrote a book, Riding Through The Storm, to chart his physical and emotional journey.

Ten years on, to mark a milestone Geoff never thought he would reach, he will revisit the challenge when Le Tour kicks off in Utrecht in the Netherlands in July 2015 - this time one day ahead of the official race.

Along with a group of up to twenty participants, Geoff will complete the ride and raise £1 million for Cure Leukaemia.

Geoff and the team’s fundraising efforts will go towards boosting the life-saving work carried out at the CCH - increasing the Centre’s ability to deliver pioneering treatments for blood cancer patients at this international centre of excellence in Birmingham, consistent with the Government’s Life Sciences vision.

The former Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest star got in some preparation for the task ahead when he brought some members of his charity team to QEHB to see the cutting-edge facilities.

Professor Craddock showed the riders around the CCH’s treatment rooms where they had the opportunity to see the latest high-tech equipment being used, as well as meeting the nursing staff.

Geoff, seven of the riders and George Lineker were then put through their paces by Le Tour sponsor Wattbike, with a training session in The Atrium at QEHB.

George, the son of England footballing legend and Match Of The Day presenter Gary, is also a blood cancer survivor and will be showing his support for Cure Leukaemia by cycling London 2 Paris, along with Geoff and his former Crystal Palace team-mates Ian Wright, John Salako and Mark Bright. England under-20 manager Aidy Boothroyd and broadcaster Jill Douglas will also be taking part.

“It has been an emotional day coming back to the CCH and introducing my fellow riders to Charlie and the clinical nurses,” said Geoff.

“Seeing first hand the impact the £1 million we aim to raise will have has further cemented our commitment to achieving this challenging goal. I’m looking forward to riding Le Tour with the level of camaraderie and support demonstrated today.”

To help raise £1 million for Cure Leukaemia, please visit Geoff's JustGiving page.