A livestock buyer and four friends are cycling more than 200 miles in three days to raise funds for Children's Hospice South West.

Despite the challenges of fundraising during the pandemic, Chris Sobey and his friends, the Menheniot MAMILS (Middle Aged Men in Lycra) are determined to raise £5,000.

Chris, who buys cattle from south west livestock markets for farmers across Devon and Cornwall, has taken it upon himself to raise funds before the main 215 mile cycle challenge by cycling to his regular work appointments at the region's livestock markets.

He said: "I've decided to take drastic measures and make additional efforts to increase funds, as we are currently at 45 per cent of our target.

"Fundraising is pretty tough in these Covid times and surplus free funds are certainly diminishing, but I hope I will be well supported in my additional training rides - I just pity the decent farming folk in having to see me turn up around the livestock auction rings in lycra!

"I'm as fat as a hippo and hippos in lycra don’t look pretty! But we want to help those families in the most difficult times.

"The MAMILs all have kids and we all feel thankful that none of us have had direct contact with such a worthwhile charity. It's incomprehensible what those families must go through and if we can do anything to help, however small, that must be a good thing."

Chris' first training ride was from Menheniot to Holsworthy (June 23) where Kivells kindly donated £500.

The next are Menheriot to Truro (June 30), to Hallworthy (July 1) and to Tavistock (July 6).

The main cycling challenge for the group of five is July 9,10 and 11.

To support Chris and the group, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/menheniot-mamil-s.