A TEAM of six from Wantage have embarked on a 385-mile “joyride” to a town in the west of France to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

The cyclists – back, left to right, Steve Barclay, Iain Powis and James Pulling, and front, Gareth Whatley, Iain Whatley and David Richardson – set off from Wantage Market Place on Sunday and hope to reach the small town of Rouex on Friday.

It will mean cycling about 70 miles each day.

Iain and Gareth Whatley’s mother Joy, 55, passed away just before Christmas after suffering from cancer.

She had recently bought a holiday home in Rouex.

Iain said: “Over the last nine months we have begun to realise what a challenge we have set our naive selves. The training has been fun and hard at the same time. However, the focus has never drifted from the task.

“The support we have had from our wives and girlfriends has been immeasurable and their efforts in fundraising has without doubt been instrumental in the £7,300 we have raised to date.”

The group hope to raise £15,000 for Cancer Research UK. To help visit justgiving.com/thejoyride