A PORTLAND woman is cycling 50 miles in honour of her late friend and her mother, to raise money for cancer research.

Nicky Randell, 38, decided to take part in the cycle challenge to raise money for cancer research after she lost a close friend to bowel cancer last year.

Nicky’s mum Norma Randell has also given her considerable motivation after she was diagnosed with bladder cancer.

Nicky explained: “She’s okay at the moment but as the doctors say it’s with you for life so she’s always having tests.

“I also lost my friend at the start of this year. Unfortunately his bowel cancer spread to his liver.

“Cancer affects anyone at any age.

“You always think it’ll be someone else but then when it happens to your family or friends it makes you realise how important it is to raise money for cures.”

Nicky, a nursery manager at Jelly Babies Day Nursery in Weymouth College, has been training for the last few weeks and recently completed a 34-mile bike ride, so she is well on her way to being able to complete the 50 miles on the day.

She said “I’m feeling optimistic now. Training where I live, I end up doing Portland hill last so it was tough at first, but I’m hopeful I’ll do it in four hours.”

Five hundred riders raised over £24,000 for Cancer Research UK at last year’s event, so sponsorship is vital as the charity gets no government funding for research. Cancer Research UK’s local fundraising manager for Dorset, Shelley Davies, said: “Cancer Research UK has made enormous progress in the fight against cancer and continues to do so. However, we have only been able to do this thanks to riders like those who take part in the Rotary Dorset Bike Ride raising sponsorship, without whom we would not be able to fund our extremely vital research.’ The challenge takes place on September 7 at Longthorn Camp Site in Wareham.

For further details or to enter the Rotary Dorset Bike Ride please go to dorset-bike-ride.co.uk