FRIENDS and family of cancer sufferers and victims will attempt the London to Brighton cycle race to fundraise to fight the disease.

All the riders have lost friends or family to cancer, or are caring for those suffering from the disease.

Matt Woodard, 22, of Sutton Lane in Langley, came up with the idea of tackling the famous bike ride in aid of Cancer Research UK after losing his mother, Jacki to small cell lung cancer.

Mr Woodard described her as ‘well known in the community’, who was loved by him and friends for her warm and welcoming personality, adding: “She fostered massive respect for our elders.”

He said: “We’re all family friends. We all knew each other beforehand. Jacki’s death hit us all hard.”

Mr Woodard’s friends Fahad and Farooq Malik, also of Langley, who’s father Tariq passed away four years ago from bowel cancer, will join him on the ride.

Writing on their GoFundMe social media page, the brothers said: “Tariq was an amazing father, husband, grandfather and all round family man.

“He was strong minded throughout his battle, and made everyone know that no matter how tough it got, you have to be strong.”

The group of twelve riders also consists of Matt’s brothers, Ross and Ricky, their cousin as well as a number of other friends.The 57-mile ride is on Sunday, September 17.

The group has already raised £2,295 of their £5,000 goal, thanks to donations of 110 friends, relatives, and well-wishers.

Mr Woodard said: “We’ve already started training. We have a Whatsapp group where we share pictures and videos of us exercising and practising for the race.

“We want to battle this race like our loved ones battled cancer.”

If you’d like to donate, their visit www.gofundme.com/london-to-brighton-cycle-september.