A TEAM of cyclists have raised £25,000 for an Eastleigh-based charity by peddling from Portsmouth to Barcelona.

The group of 38 riders and six support crew, aged 18 to 70, cycled for nine days, covering more than 750 miles, raising more than £25,000 for Southampton’s Countess Mountbatten Hospice.

Lyn Wadley, of Inspired Living, a UK charity committee created to raise money for Cancer Research UK, explained why this year it was also important to support the hospice.

She said: "A number of my friends and family, including my mother and the wife of one of our committee members, were looked after by Countess Mountbatten Hospice, so it's close to many of our hearts.

“It felt good to raise money for a cause which helps people who need support right now, while also recognising the work done by Countess Mountbatten.

“Our wish is to inspire ordinary men and women to do extraordinary things and this group of cyclists did exactly that.

“They were an unbelievable group; of all the rides we have done this was the toughest but they stuck at it and achieved something very special together.”

The Inspired Living team have, to date, raised in excess of £350,000 for charity.

The money will be partly used to kick-start Countess Mountbatten Hospice’s campaign to buy new syringe drivers, as the Botley Road facility wants 15 new devices, each costing around £1,200, by April next year.

“We are indebted to the cyclists and Inspired Living for their support for Countess Mountbatten,” said hospice chief executive Nigel Hartley.

“This is a real boost for us as we look to increase the services we offer to help more people in Southampton and wider Hampshire.

“To do that we need the support of the community because now we are an independent charity, funds and awareness of what we do have never been more important.”

The money raised is to help the hospice on Botley Road, which cares for people with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

The funds enable the hospice to continue to offer nursing and medical care, emotional and practical support, welfare advice, occupational and physiotherapy, complementary therapies, spiritual care and creative activities.