HOCKEY players raised £2,000 in memory of a much-loved friend by cycling 125 miles from Knutsford to Anglesey.
Eleven members of the third team at Knutsford Hockey Club completed the marathon challenge in memory of Mat Hodge, who died suddenly last September from a cardiac arrest aged just 43.
Mat was a member of the hockey club, and the cycling challenge was organised to mark the first anniversary of his death.
The money raised will go to the Knutsford Community First Responder Trust to support its work in the community.
The cycling challenge started at Knutsford Leisure Centre, where the hockey players train and play, and ended at Trearddur Bay, a favourite holiday spot for Mat, his wife Georgina and their sons.
One of the cyclists, James Routs, said: “We were blessed with good weather, setting off at 6am in the dark from the leisure centre and crossing the finish line in glorious sunshine at 5.30pm, with the ride taking 11.5 hours, ahead of our 12-hour estimate.
“The ride went really well, with no punctures or mechanical issues, although the knees were aching quite a bit over the last 20 miles.
“But we all kept supporting each other, and Mat was never far from our thoughts.
“We also had a great support team of family and friends who played a key role in motivating us and ensuring we remained hydrated and fed."
Any donations are still very welcome, and anyone wishing to support the cyclists can visit justgiving.com/crowdfunding/khcsc
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