CYCLISTS taking part in an annual fundraiser on Sunday braved the pouring rain to raise money for a Basingstoke hospice.

The Big Wheel saw 700 people head to Down Grange in a bid to raise £60,000 for St Michael’s Hospice, in Aldermaston Road.

The hospice cares for people with life-limiting illnesses through its in-patient unit, and offers a hospice at home services as well as range of out-patient services.

Care is provided free of charge and the hospice needs to raise £2.5million a year to be able to provide services.

There were routes for all abilities and those taking part could chose a five, 18 or 31-mile route which took cyclists through Oakley, Overton, North Waltham and Farleigh Wallop before returning to Basingstoke.

A gruelling 63-mile course had to be cancelled due to flooding along some parts of the route.

Chris Griffiths, marketing and events manager at St Michael’s Hospice, thanked "everyone who came along to support the Big Wheel bike ride and braving the horrendous weather conditions".

He added: “Big Wheel is a critical fundraising event for St Michael’s and we hope to generate £60,000 from the event, although we may struggle due to the impact of the weather.”

Borough councillor Mark Ruffell, 46, took part in the 31-mile course on the day with his 13-year-old son Matthew.

He told The Gazette: “It is an important event in particular for St Michael’s Hospice with raising money for them and that is what the event is all about. But, it is also an event which shows just how popular cycling is in and around Basingstoke and how we have wonderful countryside in which we can cycle.”

Laura Davis, managing director at Reality HR in Lychpit, took part in the 18-mile route.

She said: “It was such a shame that the weather turned out so bad and it understandably dampened the spirits of a number of potential participants.

“However, I had the right wet weather gear, but even with a lot of determination, the going was extremely tough at times.”