THE Ribble Valley Cycle Ride in aid of St Catherine's Hospice, Lostock Hall, raised an amazing £9,500.

Some 242 riders of all ages and abilities took part in the event in June and every penny of the small fortune was handed over to the hospice to go towards the Brick by Brick Appeal to help pay for the new day care extension.

One man who raised more than anyone else, drawing a whopping £879.50 in sponsorship was Peter Stevens, from Lane Ends, Preston.

But for Peter it was more than just a bike ride, it was a way of helping him come to terms with the grief of losing his mum.

Peter's mother Valerie died of cancer in June, she spent her final week of life at the hospice.

"The nursing staff there were absolutely brilliant," he said: "I can't praise them enough. So when I saw the advertisement for the bike ride, I got all my friends and relations to support me and the money flooded in."

Others who excelled in their fund-raising efforts were the Bearcock family who collected £183.51; Paul Wareing who collected £132.30 and a team from James Hall Spar who brought in £502.

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