THE ‘Lads from Salcombe’ have been remembering Tina Favis for ten years with a cycling challenge and have raised £100,000 for St Luke’s Hospice.

In their most recent challenge, two groups took on two different challenges. The first one was from John O’Groats to Lands End - 1,000 miles - with a group of five riders, led by Roger Clark, taking just over two weeks to complete.

The second bike trial was the ‘Tour de Moor’ - 150miles. The main group led by Kevin Favis circumnavigated Dartmoor via Exeter and Plymouth. Wherever the ride starts it always ends back in Tina’s hometown of Salcombe.

Anyone can join in, with a wide range of cycling abilities represented from seasoned cyclists to those that just do the ride once a year. Both teams joined up in Plymouth on September 25 and rode the last leg back to Salcombe together.

They returned to a warm welcome, an organised fun day, and several well-earned pints at Salcombe Rugby Club.

They raised £20,861, taking their grand total for the ten rides to more than £100,000.

Wayne Marshall from St Luke’s Hospice said: ‘We were astounded when Kevin, Roger and the ‘Lads from Salcombe’ arrived at the hospice at Turnchapel and presented us with a cheque for this amazing amount.

‘Their dedication to supporting St Luke’s over the last ten years has been remarkable.

‘We are so grateful for the support from the ‘Lads from Salcombe’ and all their friends, family and the local businesses that have pulled together over the years to provide this fantastic fundraising.

‘This will enable our clinical staff to continue to provide their specialist services to our community.’

Their cycling has taken them to Land’s End, Portland Bill, Ilfracombe and even France, raising money for the hospice in honour of Tina Favis.

Tina was the much-loved wife of local crab fisherman and businessman, Kevin Favis, as well as mother to their two daughters, Nicole and Laura.

Kevin and his friend Roger Clark, a local taxi driver, started the Ride for Tina as a one-off fundraiser thanking St Luke’s for the help, support, love, and care they gave Tina and her family during her battle with cancer, and it has now become an annual event raising money for the hospice.

2016 was the ninth anniversary of Tina’s death and it would have been her fiftieth birthday. ‘The Lads’ gave themselves the target of trying to raise ‘£100,000 in 10 rides’ with just over £79,000 raised from the previous nine rides, this gave them a huge goal of £21,000 to achieve. And they did it!

It costs £6 million each year to run St. Luke’s, with only 32 per cent funding received from the government they need to raise £4.5 million each year to keep the hospice open.

If you would like to make a contribution you can head to their JustGiving website: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Ride-for-Tina or www.justgiving.com/fundraising/theladsfromsalcombe

You can follow them on their Facebook pages ‘Ride for Tina’ or ‘Lads from Salcombe Ride JOGLE’