A GROUP of cyclists have raised more than £7,500 for Ulverston's St Mary's Hospice.

A team of 'South Lakes Social Cyclists' successfully completed the Coast to Coast Challenge - a 152 mile ride completed over two days from Walney Island to Whitby.

The SLSC chose to benefit St Mary’s as a local charity through family and friends experience of the hospice and to ensure more people can access the hospice’s services and support.

The cyclists have raised £7,705 for St Mary’s Hospice - enough to pay for 928 meals, 406 hours of patient care or to enable 88 patients to attend Day Care.

It costs over £2.8m per year to run the hospice and its services every year. Less than 20 per cent of its funding is provided by the NHS.

The group includes Mark Nickson, Paul Braithwaite, Nick Little, Paul Battersby, Mark Carroll, Chris Ritchie, Peter Skryme, Mark Barnes, Roger Sheard, Steve Darwick and Ben Patterson. They were supported by a back-up crew of Christine Barnes and Fiona Battersby.

Local business got involved to help with money towards accommodation and supplies enabling the trip to happen. The group wanted to thank Ashworth Street Garage - Dalton, Cumbria Tyres -Ulverston, Athersmiths Motor Services garage – Ulverston, Lloyds Motor services – Barrow, Tudor Car Services Limited – Barrow, Little Tony’s Tyre Shop – Barrow, and Freelance Mechanics – Barrow, Roosecote Service Station, Columba Garage, Crooklands Autobody, Longlane Garage, Foundry Street Garage, Emlyn Street Tyre Services, Chris Ritchie Garage Services, Topmark Cycles and Greens Pies.

To find out more about St Mary's hospice and how you can help raise vital funds or volunteer please visit www.stmaryshospice.org.uk

About St Mary’s Hospice