A COUPLE who will celebrate their 18th wedding anniversary by taking part in a bike ride raising cash for Little Havens Children's Hospice are encouraging more riders to join them.

Amanda and Chris Stracey will take part in the Essex Countryside bike ride on Sunday, June 26, to help raise cash towards a target of £30,000, which will fund a specialist nurse at the Thundersley hospice for a year.

Joined by their daughters Hannah, 16 and Emma, 11, the couple will cover the 10-mile family route around Chelmsford, Danbury, Good Easter and Maldon, while keen riders can tackle 25-mile and 60-mile routes.

Amanda, 45, said: "Although I’m not an overly sporty person, when I saw the Essex Countryside bike ride was on the same day as our wedding anniversary, I knew we had to do it!"

Events fundraiser Erika Patterson added: “The event will really celebrate the children and families Little Havens cares for, and encourage people to get out and about and enjoy cycling again as part of Team Green Britain Bike Week."

Entry fees vary according to the route chosen, for more information and to enter visit www.havenshospices.org.uk/events