A GROUP of cyclists who pledged to continue with their charity ride following the death of one of their team have raised about £10,000.

Ian Abberley, 40, was part of a team of five that was cycling from Land's End to John O'Groats in aid of the neonatal unit at the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough.

On the second day of the ride, Mr Abberley, of Swainby, near Stokesley, North Yorkshire, crashed into a rock face suffering head injuries as the team cycled in the rain in Devon. He later died in Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

Mr Abberley's daughter, Phoebe, was cared for on the neonatal unit after being born when her mother, Isobel, was only 26 weeks pregnant.

Phoebe weighed only 1lb 5oz at birth and underwent several operations. She went home after four months and recently celebrated her first birthday.

Her father had spent weeks planning the ride to raise £50,000 and, in tribute to him, the rest of the team vowed to continue with the trip.

David Fionda, one of the team, said: "We wanted to carry on with Ian's dream. He had vowed to raise money for the unit and we wanted to see that through.

"It was a case of mixed emotions, but we wanted to finish the ride. We are now appealing for help in raising the rest of the money, and would like to ask anyone who would like to donate anything, no matter how small, to contact us on the website at www.pho ebes-wish.org.uk."