"The diagnosis came right out of the blue," says Lamb. "There's no reason why I fell ill. When they told me I had Hodgkin's lymphoma, I didn't know anything about it, but I knew it was serious.

"Hodgkin's lymphoma is a form of blood cancer or leukaemia that affects the lymphatic system," he explains, "and because the lymphatic system filters out impurities in the blood, if it's not working properly it causes major problems."

Lamb had just turned 29 when he started to suffer fatigue and weight-loss. He initially put these down to a heavy workload and all the time he was spending at the gym. "It wasn't until I ended up in hospital that I began to have night sweats too, which is another symptom," he says.

Lamb, who lives with his parents, was off work for eight months and had six months of chemotherapy following his diagnosis. "It takes the wind out of your sails to get a diagnosis like that," he says. "But I had a positive attitude and wanted to get on with the treatment straight away. Also, my doctor told me that if you've got to have leukaemia, this is the one to get."

That is because, if it is detected early enough, Hodgkin's has a high survival rate – compared to many other cancers, it is one of the most curable types.

"I wasn't as sick as some people are with the chemo. It seemed to work well and all my blood tests since have been fine. I don't think the whole experience has changed me a great deal. I had a lot of family support and the staff in the haematology clinic at Stobhill hospital were fantastic."

In order to demonstrate the gratitude he feels for his treatment, Lamb has decided to take part in the annual Pedal for Scotland cycle from Glasgow to Edinburgh in September, to raise money for the ride's official charity, Leukaemia Research. "From the secretaries to the nurses and doctors, the care I received was first class and I wanted to give something back. So far, I've raised £350, but am hoping to reach £500."

So when he's not painting walls and pasting rolls of wallpaper in his work as a decorator, Lamb is out training for the 51-mile ride.

Three years on from his diagnosis, Lamb's illness is still in remission and he leads a very active life. As well as working full time and cycling, he enjoys swimming and regular work-outs at the gym. "It'll be five years before I get the all-clear, and I get a blood test every six months, but I feel as if I've never had leukaemia," he says. "It doesn't seem to have affected me."

Like Scotland's greatest Olympian, Chris Hoy and his haul of gold medals, Lamb first caught the biking bug as a child. "I got my first bike when I was around ten, maybe younger, and was always out cycling. I liked going out on my mountain bike along the local canal towpaths, and was always out and about. I'm really looking forward to the challenge of riding to Edinburgh – I can't wait for the big day."

But you don't have to be of Hoy's standard to take part in the Pedal for Scotland cycle, which follows the old A8 from Glasgow to Edinburgh. Children as young as six and adults as old as 70 are all getting on their bikes to support Leukaemia Research.

With regular rest stops along the way and mechanical back-up in case anyone runs into difficulties, the route is carefully marshalled and signposted, and there will be free snacks on offer en route to keep riders' energy levels up.

Teams or individuals taking part who have faced physical or emotional challenges in their lives are also eligible for Leukaemia Research's David Carmichael Memorial Quaich.

• For more details about the challenge, visit the Pedal for Scotland website (www.pedalforscotland.org).

To nominate someone you know for the David Carmichael Memorial Quaich, contact Yvonne (0131 661 9224) or send an e-mail to pedalforscotland@lrf.org.uk

LEUKAEMIA: THE FACTS

Leukaemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and white blood cells. There are two types: acute is where the disease progresses rapidly and aggressively, and requires immediate treatment; while chronic is where the leukaemia progresses slowly over many years.

Causes Acute leukaemia begins with an alteration to the structure of DNA that is found in the stem cells responsible for producing white blood cells, causing them to produce more than is needed. Because they are produced while still immature, they lack the infection-fighting properties of healthy, 'adult' white blood cells, and there is a corresponding decrease in red blood and platelets.

Symptoms Most signs of acute leukaemia are caused by a lack of healthy blood cells. They include pale skin, tiredness, breathlessness, having repeated infections over a short space of time, unusual and frequent bleeding, often from the gums or nose, fever and sweats, bone and joint pain, easily bruised skin, swollen glands, liver and spleen, and weight-loss.

Diagnosis In response to a symptom such as swollen glands, doctors will perform a blood test. A high number of abnormal white blood cells in the test sample could indicate the presence of acute leukaemia. This would be followed by referral to a haematologist who specialises in treating blood conditions, and a bone marrow biopsy will be carried out to check for cancerous cells. Further tests include lymph-node biopsy and a lumbar puncture.

The survival rate for Hodgkin's lymphoma, if detected early, is around 90%, making it one of the most curable forms of cancer.