AROUND 170 riders cycled from Manchester to Blackpool in aid of Wigan and Leigh Hospice on Sunday.

They completed the 63-mile journey after making their way through Leigh, Atherton, Wigan, Preston and Lytham.

Thousands were raised for the Hindley hospice.

Dave Hollingworth, 69, from Leigh, done the challenge with his friend David Haines, 70, from Lowton.

Dave said: “I’ve done the ride for the last 10 years and really enjoy it but last year two of my friends were cared for by the hospice.

“I’d always said I wouldn’t go to the hospice but when my friends were in I wanted to visit them and when you go there and see what they do it makes you realise it’s worth every penny.”

Gary Hickson, 48, from Leigh, added: “I’ve had family members in the hospice and just recently a friend of mine passed away there.

“A lot of people do fundraising for the big charities but the smaller charities need support.”

Asda Leigh worker Adrian Brown, 26, first finished the bike ride in 2016.

He said: “We had a joke at work and they said if I managed to raise £1,000 the first time I did the bike ride I would have to do it again.

"So I did it a second time and raised £1,100 and now it’s become a yearly thing.

"I’m on to raise over £1,000 again this year.”

Wigan and Leigh Hospice requires £8,700 every day to provide all its services.

Fundraising and Lottery manager Maxine Armstrong said: “It’s been another fabulous bike ride and I’d like to thank all our riders for turning out and giving their all to raise money for the hospice.

“We rely on the support of our community and it’s wonderful to see so many people taking up the challenge to help their local hospice.”