AN annual sponsored bike ride in memory of a Salcombe woman who died at St Luke’s Hospice will cover the classic John O Groats to Land’s End route this September to mark the year she would have turned 50.

Tina Favis died at the Plymouth hospice in 2007 aged just 40, and each year since a group including Tina’s husband Kevin have used pedal power to raise money for St Luke’s.

The ’lads from Salcombe’ have raised an incredible £77,000 for the charity so far, and are hoping to add a substantial amount in this, the tenth year of the ride.

This year’s challenge will be over two separate routes. Five riders will fly to Scotland on September 10 to begin the long journey to Land’s End, while a group of 25 will attempt to circumnavigate Dartmoor via Exeter, Okehampton and Plymouth from September 23 - 25.

The two groups will meet in Plymouth on September 25 and head to Salcombe, passing through Malborough en route and picking up anyone who wants to join them for the final few miles. All are welcome for this final leg, which will end at Salcombe Rugby Club, where a Sunday Funday will have been taking place since 1pm with food, entertainment and well deserved refreshments for the cyclists and supporters.

The ride for Tina is still very much done in her memory, but the lads ride for every person and family in the South Hams that have needed to call on St Luke’s. Five of the lads taking on the ride this year have completed every single one, with many training hard for months up to the event.

To support the lads and St Luke’s Hospice Plymouth, visit www.justgiving.com/teams/theladsfromsalcombe . To keep up to date, find Ride for Tina 2016 on Facebook.