Men to cycle 600km for 'real life angels'

Craig Morris said he would "never forget" the end-of-life care his mum Linda received from the hospice

A man is set to embark on a three-day cycling journey to raise money for "real life angels" who looked after his mum in her final weeks.

Linda Morris died eight years ago, about three months after being diagnosed with cancer, and received end-of-life care at the Leicestershire and Rutland Organisation for the Relief of Suffering (LOROS) near Glenfield Hospital.

Her son, Craig Morris, said he would "never forget" the care she had received in the final two weeks of her life.

The 51-year-old and three other riders as well as a driver are set to take on a 385-mile (620km) journey to raise funds for the hospice.

LOROS, which provides free end-of-life care in patients' homes as well as at its base, costs £932 an hour to run and needs to raise £9m every year to cover its costs.

In March, it announced plans to restructure its services to "secure the long-term future" of the charity.

(Left to right) Ady Ward, Craig Morris, Scott Monan and Ben Cave, who are all part of Kibworth Velo Club

The riders from Leicestershire have so far raised more than £10,000 for the hospice - which looks after about 2,500 patients and their loved ones every year - after initially aiming to raise £5,000.

Emma Jones from LOROS said: "It's because of people like Craig, Ben, Scott, Ady and Jason that we're able to make a difference to those who need us at the most difficult time in their lives."

Mr Morris told the BBC the challenge was the "least I can do" given the fundraising amounts the hospice requires each year.

He added: "They are real life angels the way they care for patients entering the final phase of their lives.

"I try to raise money where I can over the year, but this was a challenge I created to push the limits and try to give as much as the staff do on a daily basis.

"This will be a physically demanding challenge that we are all doing to support LOROS, a charity that means so much to each of us."

The challenge starts on Friday in Ardrossan, North Ayrshire, and the first leg will finish in Edinburgh.

The England stretch will then start in Blyth, Northumberland, and finish in Silloth, Cumbria, followed by the final route on Sunday which will connect Prestatyn on the north coast of Wales with Porthcawl at the opposite end of the country.