TWO friends are tackling a motorbike marathon – in memory of a mum who lost her life to breast cancer, writes Stuart Fraser.

Damon Hicks is organising the epic ride with his friend Simon Windsor to raise money for St Luke’s Hospice, where Damon’s sister Keryn Pope was cared for.

Keryn died in November shortly before her 50th birthday, after a ten-month battle with the disease.

Damon said: ’St Luke’s were so good to us in the last days of Keryn’s life. They are doing a job in which they know what the outcome is going to be, yet they are so kind and supportive.

’It was a very low time, and Simon and I were talking about doing something in Keryn’s memory and this idea came up. We both just said “Let’s go for it”.

St Luke’s were a huge part of Keryn’s latter journey with their fantastic support to Keryn and her family. They are an amazing charity and such a worthy cause to raise money for.’

The two are being supported by Damon’s and Keryn’s sister Liane Williams, who also battled breast cancer, and is helping to organise the trip.The two men are aiming to ride from Tavistock to John O’Groats and back in just five days over Easter, with only four stops.

The 1,600-mile journey will start on April 12 from the home Keryn shared with husband Mark and her son Adam Williams at Horrabridge, where the pair aim to finish the following Monday, April 17.

Damon and Simon only started riding motorbikes in the last few years; Damon will be riding his Triumph Sprint and Simon his Suzuki GSX.

Friends will be joining them for different parts of the trip, and they are also being supported by Tavistock Round Table, of which they’re both members.

They’ve set up a Just Giving page for supporters at www.justgiving.com/ Keryn-pope