30/30 riders will add to the £635,000 it has raised so far

This year 72 people have signed up to undertake 30 bike rides over the coming month, and, as usual, the last day will see the majority of them joining the Rocque to Rock for the finale.

Cycle shop owner Ian Brown came up with the idea as a means of raising funds for Les Bourgs Hospice and he was delighted with its continuing success.

‘There’s only been two years when it has raised less than £60,000,’ he said, adding that, since its inception, the ride has raised a total of £635,000 so far.

Among those returning for this year’s ride was Les Bourgs’ fundraising administrator Trish de Carteret, who took part for the first time last year.

‘The pleasure I got cycling each morning at 6 when the sun was rising and the roads were virtually empty was amazing and seeing other 30/30 cyclists each day made you feel part of a great team taking on a huge challenge,’ she said.

She thanked Mr Brown for running the event and said the money raised made a huge difference to the hospices and the services it could offer.

Among the newcomers to the event this year were three of the youngest entrants – Lydia Nelson, 9, her dad Trevor and friends Jess and Amy Peacegood, 9 and 10 respectively, and their mum Joanne.

‘Mum suggested it to us and we said we would give it a try,’ said Amy.

‘We meet every week and we cycle to school some days.’

Mrs Peacegood added that the ride to school was not a short one, since the family live in the Vale and the girls went to Melrose.

Lydia’s grandmother did the ride five years ago, said Mr Nelson. ‘Lydia was keen to do it but she didn’t have her own bike.’

The two families, including Mr Nelson’s wife and Mrs Peacegood’s husband, are all taking part in the 30/30 but will miss the final day in Guernsey since they will be on a cycling holiday together in Brittany.

Mr Nelson said they will be wearing their promotional shirts, though: ‘We’ll take a photo and send it to Ian Brown,’ he added.