Six amateur cyclists have raised over £11,000 by cycling 280 miles in honour of their friend with terminal cancer.
The team behind the Ride to the Sunshine challenge completed the tough event in four days, travelling from Gosport to Newquay in Cornwall, all during Storm Alex!
The funds raised are going to Macmillan Cancer Support and UNICEF UK in honour of their friend Chrissie Jackson, a prolific charity campaigner who is living with incurable stage 4 cancer.
After being given the devastating news in 2018 that her cancer was terminal, Chrissie decided to embrace a number of adrenaline-fuelled fundraisers to raise as much money as possible for charities close to her heart.
This included racing from Australia to China in the fifth leg of the Clipper 2017-18 Round the World Yacht Race.
She has recently been shortlisted for the Pride of Britain Awards - Local Fundraiser of the Year, for the South West region.
The dedicated team behind the Ride to the Sunshine challenge included Gemma Nichols and Giles Semper (both from GO! Southampton) and Clipper Race Director Mark Light.
They were joined by fellow adventurers and former Clipper Race sailors Nikki Henderson, Will Stokely and Simone Talfourd as well as support driver Carrie Rich.
Gemma said: “Before June, I had never ridden a road bike or in fact any bike on a road – so this was a huge challenge.
“Cycling through Storm Alex was particularly difficult, which saw us riding into 50mph headwinds while tons of water descended upon us.”
Giles added: “I have never ridden in such intense conditions, with the worst day of the storm being on the final day.
"And if things were not tough enough, we also came face to face with a Highland Bull blocking the road!”
The team completed in the last 15 miles in the dark and were greeted by Chrissie at the finish line in Newquay."
“It was an incredible moment and made everything worthwhile,” said Gemma.
“We are proud to call Chrissie our friend – and we are completely in awe of her and what she has achieved.
"To raise over £11,000 in her honour is a wonderful feeling.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here