MORE than £8,000 was presented to two charities at Tavistock Golf Club on Saturday night following the recent ’Coast to Coast’ sponsored cycle ride.

A group of club members and friends set out from Ilfracombe in North Devon over a wet and windy September weekend to complete the 100-mile ride over three days ending up on Plymouth Hoe. Money was also raised at the club and from a juniors five-a-side football tournament.

The riders who took part were Phil Gawman, Sue Gawman, Shaun Getson, Hayley Getson, Steve Harding, Julie Harding, Nick Cash, Hannah Cash, Richie Potts, Gary Foster, Kenney Mackenzie, Rob Sleep, Paul Allen, Lynn Swift and Mike Swift.

Spokesperson Mike Swift told the Times: ‘The ride was first discussed several months ago when Hayley Shipton’s mother (Lynn), and Barry Shipton’s wife, was diagnosed with cancer and was being cared for by the Marie Curie charity. Sadly, Hayley’s mum died 10 days ago and her funeral took place on the Friday the day before the passing over of the cheques.

Hayley herself could not take part on the planned day of the ride because of her mother’s illness. However Hayley and I completed the ride again one week ago (two days after her mum passed away.’

‘The other charity, the Derriford renal unit, is one particularly close to Ken Mackenzie was one of the riders. His brother David needed a kidney transplant several months ago. Paul Allen, a friend of David, donated his kidney. They both want to raise awareness of organ donations and people carrying a donor card.’

A superb £4,710 was presented to the Marie Curie Cancer Fund and a further £3,292.65 was presented to the Derriford Hospital Renal Unit although the total of £8,000 is still rising.

There were many donations from immediate family and friends as well as Tavistock Golf Club; Tavistock Rugby Club; Jack Mackenzie, a pupil of Whitchurch Primary School, who raised £200 for the Derriford kidney renal unit; Jonathan Talbot, who donated £500 to Marie Curie raised from the Turners of Roborough golf day held at the Tavistock Golf Club and more generous donations from family and friends collected for Marie Curie after the service for Lynn Shipton.

Support vehicles and helpers for transporting the bikes/ Luggage to Ilfracombe and meeting the riders at Plymouth Hoe at the finish were Barry Shipton, Jason Shipton and Mike Soper.