THE husband and son of a nurse who died from cancer earlier this year are getting in gear for a 63-mile bike ride to raise funds for the hospice which looked after her.

Mensa member Anne Braithwaite, a grandmother-of-two from Astley, died at Wigan and Leigh Hospice in January after being diagnosed with stomach and liver cancer in August.

Her husband Jim, 62, and their son David, 32, will forever be indebted to the Hindley hospice for the level of care she received there.

They are determined to complete the hospice's annual Manchester to Blackpool Bike Ride on July 9 and raise as much money as they can.

Jim said: “Anne and I used to cycle together three times a week and do lot of walking too.

“A 60-mile ride is a bit of a stretch for me because I have not cycled that far for a good while, but I do go out cycling with a group three times a week.

“Anne was 60 but she looked about 40 and she was so bright and was a member of Mensa, which is amazing.

“She spent a lot of time making sure we were ok when it should have been the other way around.

"Anne had been a nurse for 40 years. She had even thought about working in a hospice, so when it was suggested she go to the hospice she was fine.

"I came in a few hours after she was admitted and she had a room with a nice view and could watch the squirrels and the birds, which she liked, and the staff were lovely.”

Jim fixed up a road bike so that David could join him in doing the challenge.

David said: “I used to do a lot of mountain biking but not so much any more.

"But mum liked riding and dad likes it too.

"When he saw this ride advertised at the hospice and signed up I wanted to do it with him for everything the hospice did for my mum.

"I think it is quite fitting to do a bike ride and I think she would be proud of us.”

Anne worked at Bedford Nursing and Residential Home on Battersby Street, Leigh.

As well as Jim and David, she left behind son Richard, daughter Kathryn and grandchildren Eden and Chase.

Jim and Kathryn have previously done a skydive to raise money for the hospice.

The deadline for signing up for the charity bike ride is Friday, June 30.

To take part in the challenge, or for more information, contact the hospice's fundraising team on 01942 525566 or register online at wlh.org.uk/events. To donate to the JustGiving page set up for Jim and David visit bit.ly/2rD0te2.