A TEAM of cyclists has raised about eight times its intended target for a local charity.

Mark Howard from Sherburn-in-Elmet, helped organise an event with John Sanderson with the aim to raise about £1,000 to support Brain Tumour Research Across Yorkshire, with about 24 cyclists taking part.

Donations have just finished coming in for the 60-mile ride which took place in May between Bridlington and Scalm Park Golf Club, near Selby, back in May, and an official presentation is expected to take place in the next few weeks once Gift Aid contributions have been confirmed.

Mark said: “We haven’t got the final confirmation of how much we raised yet, but we think we’re looking at about £8,000. We think that’s going to rise with Gift Aid too. I thought we might get £3,000 to £5,000 so it’s been a surprise.

“As the day went it couldn’t have gone any better, especially to say it’s the first we have done. We thought we might have a few hiccups, but it couldn’t have gone any better, and the feedback we’ve had from a lot of people is that they want to take part next year, so I think it’s going to become an annual thing.”

Mark said the cyclists even managed to surprise themselves with the speed of their journey, all arriving back in Selby within about an hour of each other, four to five hours after setting off.

He said: “Everyone smashed our expectations.”

Mark’s daughter Olivia had two 13-hour operations when she was just two years old to remove a tumour from her brain. Almost four years later, she is fit and healthy and back at school, so the charity means a lot to him and Olivia’s mother Sue.

Mark said: “Olivia is moving to yearly check-ups now, that’s how pleased the doctors are with her progress, which is great news.”

Mark and the organisers want to thank everyone who took part, donated and helped provide assistance.