A SUCCESSFUL cycling fundraiser was held in Okehampton at the weekend to help a local man who was badly injured in a hit and run accident.

The Okehampton District Round Table held a cycling fundraiser on Sunday (October 4) to support Matt and Sarah Retter after Matt, a member of Okehampton Round Table, was left with life-changing injuries after being hit by a vehicle when out jogging.

The local community came out in force to cycle along the Granite Way to raise funds to support Matt and Sarah, who are currently facing an uncertain future as Matt recovers from life-changing injuries.

Participants gathered at the Granite Way Cycle Hire, which had opened their facilities to the cyclists, before setting off on the bike ride. The event raised a total of £400 and will be added to the donations that have already come in through the campaign’s JustGiving page.

So far, the Round Table has received over £7,000 through the JustGiving page, with some donations coming from as far afield as Australia and New Zealand. The £400 from Sunday’s fundraiser will mean that the Round Table has hit its £7,500 fundraising target.

Okehampton Round Table chairman Chris Brown-Martin said: “It went really well. We had loads of community support. It went far beyond what we expected. Granite Way Cycle Hire were amazing for letting us use their facilities and arranging the cake donations.”

He added that Matt and Sarah also attended the event and were overwhelmed by the show of support.

Matt became the victim of a hit-and-run while out running near his home in Hatherleigh just a week after his wedding.

Police confirmed a 43-year-old man from Bideford was arrested on suspicion of several offences including causing serious injury by careless driving and dangerous driving, failing to stop after an accident, driving while disqualified, driving while under the influence of drugs and driving without insurance or a valid licence.