A GROUP of colleagues who have dubbed themselves the three fat blokes on bikes are getting on their saddles to cycle 140 miles in memory of a much-loved family member who died from cancer.

The trio – Mike Webster, Nathan Carr and Gary McKinnon – all work for Hills Waste Solutions in Swindon and despite having no experience of cycling, they are determined to complete the mammoth journey from Kent to Ghent in Belgium next week to raise thousands of pounds for the Kirkwood Hospice in Huddersfield.

They have already received more than £7,500 in donations but are eager to hit their £10,000 target.

The hospice cared for Mike’s sister-in-law Judith, who died three weeks ago after her cancer spread and became terminal.

Managing director Mike, 58, who lives in Sevenhampton, now wants to give something back to the hospice that cared for the 67-year-old mother-of-two and grandmother.

The trio will embark on their three day journey next Thursday, May 12 at 3pm and are aiming to be in Belgium on the Saturday evening. Afterwards Mike said they will celebrate with a well-earned drink or two.

“Essentially 30 people are doing it, two of my colleagues were already doing it and I asked to join in because it is something to help the hospice,” he said.

“I have never been on a bicycle before and only bought a bike a couple of weeks ago from Halfords. We are all pretty porky, so we have called ourselves the three fat blokes on bikes.

“So far I have been on the bike four times – but we are determined to complete the challenge. Nathan has done a bit of cycling but myself and Gary are completely new to it.

“We’ve been out cycling and we have done more than 16 miles and the longest we have done so far is 40.

“But training is going well. We visited 16 pubs and we now understand why bikes are called ‘pushbikes’ because we have pushed ours up every hill in Wiltshire.”

Mike who lives with wife Jill and has a daughter Emily, 31, will be wearing a tracker so his family will be able to watch how he is getting on online.

He added: “Before Judith died, when I found out about her cancer, I told her I was going to get a bike and do the bike ride, so she knew about it.

“I’m nervous but I don’t want to let people down because so much money has been donated and it is an amazing amount which will go straight to the hospice."

To donate go to: justgiving.com/fundraising/MikeKent2Ghent