THE daughter of a former Saints player who lost his life to cancer is set to raise thousands in his memory.

Ken Wilkins, also known as Ken Caisley, died of throat cancer in 1997 aged 64.

The midfielder played for the club twice and scored one goal between 1949 and 1953 when it was based at The Dell in Milton Road, Southampton.

Now Ali Rosen will get on her bike and cycle 216 miles across Africa to support others with the disease.

The 57-year-old from Romsey hopes to raise more than £3,000 before she sets off on the five-day Women V Cancer Cycle Africa challenge.

To give her fundraising a boost, the grandmother- of-four had all of her long blonde hair chopped off, raking in £264.76 which will be split between Breast Cancer Care, Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust and Ovarian Cancer Action.

The sports and remedial massage therapist who works at Alistair Miller Chiropractics in Middlebridge Street, Romsey, decided to take part in the women-only cycling event after losing friends and family, including her dad, to cancer.

Ali, who is also a mum-of-four from Romsey said: “I know a lot of people personally who have died of cancer in one form or another.

“My father died of cancer. He was completely healthy right up until the end.

“I’m doing it for my father and for friends that have died from cancer.

“It’s a horrendous disease and if I can contribute in any way to find a cure then this is my bit towards that.

“So many people have come up to me and shared their stories so you know that you’re doing good.”

Ali will join more than 30 women in the fifth Women V Cancer cycle in Tanzania in October 2015, riding from Mt Kilimanjaro through three national parks towards the Ngorongoro Crater.

She has already raised more than £715 towards her target but to keep the cash coming in she will be selling arm bands, holding car boot sales and hosting a spa day between 2pm and 4pm on August 30.

She is also donating half the profits from some massage treatments until next August.

For more information or to donate, call 07804 766847 or visit justgiving.com/Alison-Rosen1.