PICTURE GALLERY: The end of a 36-day cycling fundraiser

Linda Mizun, 27, burst into the office of the Love Your Hospital charity at the Chichester hospital in April, announcing she was going to ride nearly 4,000km around Portugal to fundraise for the hospital.

“She’s an amazing doctor,” said Lesley-Anne Lloyd, head of charity operations at Love Your Hospital.

“She’s a real bundle of energy and passionate about her patients and she wanted to do something a bit different.”

Lesley-Anne said Linda identified a £120,000 piece of equipment for the hospital, which helps diagnose bowel cancer at early stages and allows it to be treated.

Linda set off in June and was on the road for 36 days, during which time she met some incredible people.

“There’s always somebody there to help you,” said Linda. “It’s about your attitude. If you’re good to the road, the road is good to you.”

She added: “You find so many amazing people in the streets.”

It was not all plain sailing; she endured a range of weather conditions, including torrential rain which at times left her depressed, but she did not give up.

“I always kept my smile,” she said. “The most important thing was to try to smile more than anyone in a car who’s comfortable.”

She made the amazing effort to highlight the importance of diagnosing bowel cancer early, and to fundraise for an OR1 laparoscopic integrated theatre for the hospital.

“My grandfather died from bowel cancer, and bowel cancer is one of the cancers that we can treat if you’re diagnosed early,” she said. “And, even though the GPs are telling everyone what to do, people aren’t aware of that.”

Although people are sometimes reluctant to have a colonoscopy, Linda said it can be ‘life-saving’.

“I just really wanted to get the word out there that diagnosing it early and going to a GP can save your grandfather.”