Hundreds turnout for charity cycling challenge
They came, they saw, they conquered - hundreds of cyclists took on the hills of the Wrekin and survived, all in the name of charity.
More than 700 entrants for the second Round the Wrekin sportive, set to raise thousands of pounds for Wolverhampton-based Compton Hospice.
Cyclists took part in one of three challenges – the epic 100 mile route, the standard 64 mile route and the short, 24 mile course, named the Hugh Porter route.
Cycling legend Hugh Porter, who took part in the 24 miles route, said he was delighted with the turnout and stayed throughout the day to give medals to those taking part.
He added: "It's great to beat last year's target, for such a good cause. I'm just happy to be involved.
"Somewhere in life most families get touched with cancer – I lost my sister and I lost my uncle in the hospice, so there's a certain amount of poignancy there to be involved.
"I rode with a group of club mates and people I've rode with over the years, some people I go way back to school with. There's a nice comradery with cyclists, it's been a great day."
With riders aged from 10 to 85, cyclists made trips from as far Northern Ireland to raise money for Compton Hospice, whilst others dusted off their tandem's and one woman took on the race who had undergone a complete heart transplant just three years ago.
Karen Flavell, aged 53, from Wombourne, had cardiomyopathy, a de-generative heart condition, and completed the race with her family.
She said: "Three years ago almost to do the day I had my heart transplant.
"I had cardiomyopathy all my life, but things started deteriorating ten years ago - it got to the point where I needed a new one.
"I had the operation at Papworth Hospital and it's great now I can do anything I want to do – I couldn't do before, I'm very lucky, it's given me the gift of life."
