A CYCLE centre has organised a gruelling ride of the second part of the Tour de France Grand Depart route to raise cash for charity.

Ian Alden, from Bank Cycles in Catterick Garrison, is organising tomorrow’s (Wednesday, May 8) event for the second year with the help of two professional riders from Team Raleigh, with local riders raising money for Help for Heroes and the Mowbray Suite at the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton.

The riders will start from Catterick Garrison on the 70-mile route, heading towards Masham and taking the Tour route up to Middleham, Leyburn, Aysgarth, Hawes, and over to Buttertubs, Reeth, Grinton, and Redmire before returning to Catterick Garrison.

One of Mr Alden’s customers Mike Hamm, a site manager for Walter Thompson Contractors, is riding to raise money for the Friarage.

He said: “In the last year several friends, colleagues, acquaintances and myself have sadly had to use this welcome and much-needed service at the hospital which is popular with both cancer patients and their carers.

“Complementary therapies in the Mowbray Suite have an important role to play in helping patients through their conventional cancer treatment and therapies such as aromatherapy, acupuncture and relaxation techniques can enhance general well-being and provide emotional support.”

There will also be injured soldiers riding to raise money for Help for Heroes – including amputees who will be riding on hand-cycles.

He added: “Our shop is a franchise of Team Raleigh so we can call on professional riders to come down and do these events with us which is great – Tom Moses and Rich Lang will meet and greet the local riders and go on the ride with them."

To support Mr Hamm visit his Just Giving page- http://www.justgiving.com/Mikehamm; or www.helpforheroes.org.uk to support the military charity.