A GROUP of Aldi employees will escape the checkouts and get on their bikes for a worthy cause next month.

The nine workers will cycle a gruelling 86 miles, along the Ridgeway and back, on May 5 and 6, in a bid to raise money for Prospect Hospice.

They chose the charity after one of the participants lost her mother to cancer last summer.

Laura Lawrence’s mum, Julie Dixon, died on August 29, after a four-year battle with cancer. She was just 55.

Laura said: “Prospect Hospice is a place that does amazing work and looked after my mum so well, making her final days comfortable and dignified.”

The group, which is made up of Laura, Andrew Thomson, Steve Jones, Jo-Anne Denning, Nick Rowe, Amy Sharpe, John Scott, David Boggild and Stephen Winwood, will cycle the 43 miles from Overton Hill to Streatley and back again over the course of the weekend.

Laura said: “Our sporting abilities are varied, to say the least.

“Nick has completed two Iron Mans, a marathon and two half-marathons, Steve J has completed two marathons and seven half-marathons and Amy and Andy, who have completed a pavement pounding 11 half-marathons between them.

“The rest of us, Dave, Jo, John, Steve W and myself, venture into the gym occasionally and, in some cases, have not sat on a bike since childhood.

“This will be an interesting challenge.”

Some members of the group took part in the Prospect Hospice Big Bike Ride last weekend, to get in some extra training before their big fundraising event.

Group members range in age from 35 to 46 and all have worked for Aldi in Swindon for between six and 21 years.

They are hoping to reach a fundraising target of £1,000 and, so far, managed to raise £820 through online donations.

To sponsor the group, visit http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com /fundraiser-web/fundraiser/ showFundraiserProfilePage.

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For more information on the work Prospect Hospice does, visit www.prospect-hospice.net.