Doncaster group take on London to Paris ride for charity

The group cycled from London to Paris Credit: Tim Ireland/PA Wire/Press Association Images

A group of novice cyclists from Doncaster has raised more than £47,000 for a cancer charity after saddling up to ride from London to Paris.

All of the 15-strong team, known as the Doncaster Cycle Trust, had experienced a family member or friend touched by cancer.

They decided to use their experience as a positive, and raise money in support of Sheffield's Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity. They hoped to raise £10,000.

The riders, from Doncaster, cycled the 300-mile route for the charity's £1.3 million Do Your Bit Campaign, which is raising money to create a new cancer research and treatment suite at Weston Park Hospital.

The initial donation of £22,000 raised through their June adventure has now been doubled to £44,000 by not-for-profit health insurer Westfield Health, and extra donations have seen the final total rise to more than £47,000.

Mike Honey, whose wife Denise was treated at Weston Park Hospital before she died of cancer in February, was one of those who took on the cycle challenge, with his sons Jonathan, 23, and Simon, 21.

Mike, 52, who works at Henderson Insurance Brokers, said: "The support we have received has been absolutely unbelievable and we were amazed when we found out how much we had raised. Denise would have been really pleased with what we have done for Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity."

Mike, also dad to David, 18, said: "I would like to visit the hospital again once the work has been completed on the new centre to see what the money has helped towards, and I hope the new facilities help thousands of patients across our region and beyond overcome cancer in the future."

The trip was organised by 49-year-old Ruth White, from Cantley. She said: "I feel that this trip really goes to show anyone who sets their mind to something can achieve what they set out to achieve. It was great fun organising it and definitely more than worth it after finding out how much we raised."

Sarah Cross, fundraiser at Weston Park Hospital Cancer Charity, said: "Mike, Ruth and the rest of the group have raised an incredible amount of money for our

Do Your Bit campaign and we are delighted to have their support. Our campaign is about people coming together to do their bit for the cause, and this is exactly what the Doncaster Cycle Trust has done."