KATHERINE BAINBRIDGE

NINE members of one family are teaming up for an epic cycle ride between two places close to their hearts in memory of a lost loved one.

Margaret Wise died at The Christie hospital after losing her battle with Lymphoma in February 2015, at the age of just 58.

She lived for many years in Marple Bridge with her husband Paul and daughters Megan and Polly and the family regularly went on holiday to Trearddur Bay in Anglesey, where they own a flat and where Margaret’s ashes are scattered.

Now Megan, 29, Polly, 33 and seven other family members are planning to cycle the 125 miles from Marple Bridge to Trearddur Bay in a bid to raise £4,000 for The Christie.

Megan said: “I’m not really sure how we came up with the idea.

“We wanted to do some sort of challenge and for it to be achievable for a few people.

“We were all together at Christmas in Wales and we just announced to everyone that we were doing it and asked who was with us.”

The group uncles and includes Libby Mark Evans, Evans, Chrissy of aunts, cousins Evans, Freddie Evans, Molly Evans, Ieuan Evans and Richard Wise – and they are all training hard in order to be ready for the challenge on June 25.

“My boyfriend is a keen cyclist so he has been coaching us along the way and sorting out the route,” Megan said.

“We were all in Wales for Easter so we did a training ride over part of the route, but it is tricky because we are all spread out across the country.”

Paul, who used to play cricket and Lacrosse in Mellor, now lives in Cheshire, where he and Margaret moved to in 2014. Megan lives in Chorlton and travels a lot for her job as an event planner and Polly lives down south in Kent, where she works as a vet.

A number of other family members, including Paul, are providing a support team for the riders, with everyone assigned a job such as bike maintenance, nutrition and treasurer.

Megan said: “We’ve all bought bikes and got all the gear, so we look the part! I am a bit apprehensive about it – I’m a runner, but I’d not really cycled before. I am slowly getting into it though, I just hope the weather holds up.”

Claire Ferguson, sporting events officer at The Christie charity, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Megan and the rest of the team for deciding to raise funds for our charity.

“We would like to wish the whole team the very best of luck for their challenge.”

To find out more or make a donation visit justgiving.com/fundraising/ milesformargo.