Friends go coast to coast for charity

THREE friends from Kendal have raised over £1,200 for a local hospice following a gruelling coast to coast bike ride.

Michael Proudfoot, Mike Bolton and Dave Clarke cycled the 140 miles between Workington and Tynemouth in memory of family members who have died from cancer.

The trio completed the journey in three days raising money for St John’s Hospice, Lancaster, which cares for terminally-ill cancer patients.

Michael and Mike’s mother-in-laws, Lorna and Margo, were both cared for by the hospice before losing their fight against cancer and Mike's brother Glenn passed away in June this year having spent some periods of respite at St John's.

Michael, a partner at Moore and Smalley Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors, Kendal, said: “Sadly most of us have experienced the loss of a friend or family member to cancer. Mike and I have had relatives that have been well-cared for by St John’s Hospice where the staff do a fantastic job. We hope the money we have raised will help support the work they continue to do.

“The three of us all enjoy bike riding, but the second and third days were a bit of a challenge. Luckily we only had two punctures between the three of us. We’d all like to thank our friends, family and colleagues for their kind donations and their support of our cycle challenge.”

Staff at local cycle store Wheelbase kindly donated special cycling shirts for the trio to wear on their journey.