A mother who lost her child to a rare childhood cancer is one of 28 cycling to save young lives.

The cyclists, all employees of Zimmer Biomet, a medical appliance company, set off from the Swindon HQ on a 100-mile ride to raise money for charity.

Among them was Shirley Hepworth, who lost her child Beau to neuroblastoma, a form of childhood cancer, at the age of 6.

Shirley said: “I lost my little girl in 2023. Because childhood cancer is so rare, it's easy to be naive to it until it happens to you or someone close to you.

“Although childhood cancer is rare, a child in the UK dies of neuroblastoma every two weeks.”

In the fundraiser, Shirley describes her world as “crashing down” in December 2021 when she found out her four-year-old, “excited at the prospect of school”, had cancer.

She adds: “I nursed my child through some of the most horrific things I have ever witnessed… On the 4th of June 2023, 13 days before her 7th birthday, my beautiful little girl took her last breath.”

(Image: Newsquest)

The ride has raised nearly double its target of £5,000, with the £9,308 raised at the time of writing doubled again by Zimmer Biomet which is matching all donations pound for pound.

All the money will go to the ForeverSIX fund, set up by Shirley, which will feed into Solving Kids Cancer UK.

The ForeverSIX Fund raises money for pioneering neuroblastoma research and pastoral support for children accessing treatment in memory of Beau, “an amazing little girl”.

The 29 coworkers-turned-teammates will cycle 100 miles over two days in Bridgend with an overnight stop in Chepstow.

You can donate to the ForeverSIX Fund here: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/foreversix

It was organised by James Sharratt and Verity Campbell, with medical couriers All Aces sponsoring the event and giving up their time and vehicles to act as support crew.

The launch of the peloton was celebrated with a company Macmillan coffee morning, with a photo of the riders in matching lycra in a balloon arch under the shining sun.

One rider, Andrew, was not perturbed by an ongoing rain weather warning. He said: “My skin is waterproof so I’ll be alright.

He added: “It’s for a good cause so I am happy to be involved.”