Paul Pearson, Richard Le Sueur, Tony Hillsden, Brian Frith, Chris Le Marquand and Gus Meyer

FIVE Jersey cyclists have geared up for the Jersey Hospice Ecuador challenge with a practice cycle across France.

The group, known as Big Vern’s Cycle Club, decided to raise money for the South America trip in November by cycling 850 miles from St Malo to Nice.

The group members are Brian Frith, Tony Hillsden, Chris Le Marquand, Richard Le Sueur and Gus Meyer. Paul Pearson also travelled from England for the trip.

Mr Frith, who is chairman of CancerBackup, said that as well as preparing for South American challenge, the France venture was to boost the profile of his charity’s planned merger with Macmillan.

‘The funds we raise are for Jersey Hospice,’ he said, ‘but we are in the process of putting together a merger with Macmillan in the next two or three months, and I also want to promote that.’

Mr Frith said that the Jersey Hospice Vietnam trip in 2007 had inspired them to enter this year’s challenge.

‘We came together because four of us out of the six who are cycling did the Vietnam trip, and it was fabulous,’ he said. ‘As a result of that we cycle together regularly in Jersey and we got the name because we always end up at Big Vern’s.’

The group planned to be in the saddle for more than eight hours a day. ‘This is a training trip and it’s going to be hard,’ Mr Frith said. ‘Our longest day is over a hundred miles. It will push us all and will really focus our attention.’

Mr Frith said that they wanted to raise more than £20,000 ahead of the Ecuador trip, but they also aim to enjoy the French sunshine and scenery.

‘We cycle it for the fun of it and because we enjoy each other’s company,’ he said.
The planned merger between CancerBackup and Macmillan, which is expected to be completed in the next few months, will match similar moves which have taken place in the UK.

The new charity will be called Macmillan Cancer Support and will be based at CancerBackup’s current drop-in centre at the Lido Medical Centre.