PROSPECT Hospice got a wheel boost after the number of cyclists taking part in its second biking event doubled.

The Wroughton-based Hospice’s Big Bike Ride attracted hundreds of riders from across the county yesterday to take on the Croft trail and the Marlborough Downs in aid of the charity, many taking part in memory of loved ones.

Among them was Gareth Ockenden and his pal John O’Reilly, who took on the longer 50km route and raised hundreds of pounds for the hospice, where Gareth’s mum Ann Ockenden worked as a volunteer for 12 years before becoming a patient.

The 63-year-old was a popular figure in Old Town, having fundraised for local causes as well as working as a teacher at Robert Le Kyng and Chalet School before she was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2010.

Gareth, 31, of Cheney Manor, said: “We are not keen cyclists but we wanted to do something for Prospect because it was a charity close to her heart.”

Jonathan Conning and a group of friends had been planning to do the bike ride even before one of their close pals died at the hospice last week.

The 43-year-old said: “It makes it much more personal and when we learned of his death, a few more wanted to come out and take part.

“My mum was also assisted by Prospect 20 years ago and so it is great to be able to do something we like to do, while raising money for such a good cause.”

Event organiser Becky Gammon said: “We had 80 last year and around 180 this year so we have more than doubled our numbers, which is fantastic.

“This will definitely become a fixture on the fundraising calendar and its thanks to the help of Mountain Biking Swindon, who set out the route in hailstones on Saturday.”

Prospect’s next big fundraiser is the annual women’s Starlight Walk on June 30. Registration costs £15.