Land's End to Thurston cycle challenge for cancer support charity Sophie's Stars

A fund-raising group of friends and family are in the final stages of preparing for a 400-mile cycle ride from Land’s End to a Thurston pub - all for a cause close to their hearts.

The eight riders are all friends or relatives of the late Sophie Claydon, who died at just 25 years old in 2017 from kidney cancer. The former Thurston Community College pupil was a popular figure in the HR department at West Suffolk Council.

After the unexpected loss of her sister, Leanne Griffiths, from Bury St Edmunds but now based in Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, recently launched the charity Sophie’s Stars, to support friends and families of individuals with cancer.

The first major fundraising event for the charity begins on Wednesday when the gang of eight will cycle from Cornwall to The Fox & Hounds - aiming to be back at the Thurston pub on Sunday afternoon.

The group includes Sophie’s brother, Russell, from Bury St Edmunds and the sports editor of the Bury Free Press and SuffolkNews. They have a fundraising target of £5,000 and have raised more than £4,000 so far.

Sophie’s father Bruce, who works at West Suffolk Hospital, will join Leanne’s mother-in-law Heather as the drivers of the support vehicle alongside the riders.

The event was the brainchild of Sophie's brother-in-law, Alistair Griffiths, to support his wife Leanne's newly-launched charity.

Sophie's former partner Peter Hart, friend James King and cousin Jack Yallop are also in the cycling team along with Philip Mole, Gavin Chillingworth and Tom Collishaw.

To donate visit: Landsend2bse

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