A chill-out for Christian and his team on a snowy Ben Nevis during their Three Peaks Challenge

A friend of an inspirational young cancer patient who walked Wainwright’s Coast to Coast route while in the final months of his life aims to complete his own coast-to-coast journey.

Christian Schneider had planned to undertake another challenge with Tom Buckley after his mammoth 310km (192-mile) walk in winter conditions in December 2008, but the 23-year-old Cheshire man died before they could tackle another event.

But now, inspired by his late friend’s courage, Bournemouth University third-year student Christian is midway through a four-event challenge that includes a gruelling bike ride from the east coast of the USA to the west coast – a journey of more than 4,800km (3,000 miles).

Cash raised will go to the Christie Hospital in Manchester, a cancer centre that treated Tom throughout his life.

The Bike4Buckers appeal has already seen Christian complete the London Marathon in April, climb the national Three Peaks – Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon – in May with a trot around the Great Manchester 10k run the following day with Tom’s surviving twin sister Jennifer. Later this week, he sets off to tackle the ascent of Europe’s highest mountain, the 5,642m (18,510ft) Mount Elbrus, in the Caucasus. The New York to San Francisco cycle run is scheduled for July – with a target time of 50 days so Christian can get back to Bournemouth to see the start of his final year of business studies.

Christian said: “Tom Buckley was one in a million. We met in school but became friends through Scouts and had many happy memories making trouble for the Scout leader, who coincidently was also my mum!

Christian and Tom's sister Jennifer meet comedian Paddy McGuinness after the Manchester run

“In November 2008, Tom undertook the Coast to Coast challenge walking from St Bees Head to Robin Hood’s Bay. This in itself was an achievement by anybody’s standards but it was the story behind it which made it special.

“The previous five cancers in his lifetime had taken its toll on his body but despite having a metal knee replacement and parts of his lung removed he still completed the arduous walk in the scheduled 18 days.

“It’s also worth noting that, with his time limitations, he had to do it in treacherous conditions battling through gale-force winds, freezing-cold temperatures and thick snow! All in all, a truly remarkable achievement which justified the £100,000 he managed to raise for the Christie.”

Christian and his team of supporters have set up a justgiving website with the aim of raising £10,000 and is already more than a third of the way to his target.

More details of the challenge can be seen on Christian’s website.