A BEREAVED father is to take part in a fundraising challenge on what would have been his son's 33rd birthday.

David Bransby was "ripped apart by grief" when Elliot died suddenly aged just 30. Now he is aiming to help others by raising money for The Compassionate Friends, a bereavement charity he says is "so sadly close to my forever broken heart".

On Sunday, May 22 he will be taking up The Compassionate Friends 2.5 challenge by static cycling 30 miles at Aireborough Leisure Centre in Guiseley.

David, 59, a self-employed computer tutor who lives in Rawdon, is aiming to raise £5,000.

The first ever TCF 2.5 Challenge will take place from May 21 to 22. The Compassionate Friends want to celebrate their 250 volunteers with a fundraiser based on the numbers 2 and 5.

David's solo fundraising event will be started off at 10am by Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough MP Stuart Andrew. There will also be a raffle.

David said: "My son, Elliot was just 30 when he very unexpectedly died on 16 November 2019. Together with (my ex-wife) Donna, Elliot’s mum, he was our only child, he was our world.

"Very shortly after Elliot died, I was introduced to the bereavement charity, The Compassionate Friends (TCF). Last year, I curated and published a book of poetry that had been written by over 50 bereaved parents and siblings. Forget Me Not Poems, is on course to raising over £20,000 for TCF. Being active in fundraising is nothing new to me, but this time is was indeed very personal. In the book, with a foreword by Gabby Logan & Dame Stephanie Shirley, three of my own poems are featured https://www.tcf.org.uk/store/product/6_books/124_forget-me-not-poems/

"But when I read about the challenge, it was something that I had to take part in. By coincidence, my static bike ride is on what would have been Elliot’s 33rd birthday. It’s because of Elliot’s ‘forever 30’ age, that I chose to cycle 30 miles, and I’ve calculated that it should take me 2.5 hours. So that fits in with all the events nationwide having a 2.5 theme."

He said Elliot "live and breathed Leeds United", and on his last ever birthday David presented him with a cartoon marking his love for the club. The cartoon was later made into a flag, and a number of Leeds players and former players have been photographed with it in Elliot's honour.

David said: "He was my best friend, and I miss him like crazy.

"There isn’t a word to describe being a bereaved parent, that is just how bad it really is. However, raising money to benefit other members of the ‘club’ that no parent ever wants to join, is therapeutic, and is helps me to get through each day.

"For his final 5 years, Elliot loved living in Guiseley, so its also fitting that this is where that I shall be doing my challenge."

Last year David married Helen. He said:"I am living my life with the person who saved it."

He has three step daughters, Stephanie, Katie and Zoe.

Visit https://www.tcf.org.uk/25-challenge/ for more details on the challenge.