A TIRELESS group were the fitting cause of a £5million fundraising project to pass the £2million milestone.

The Arkriders have raised more than £215,000 for the Ark Cancer Centre Charity’s appeal which will help to fund a new NHS cancer treatment centre at Basingstoke hospital and this week, their latest donation took the running total past £2million.

In the last three years, the cycling fundraisers have piled on the pedal power in a series of challenges.

This year, a major fundraising feat saw some of the Arkriders organise a charity dinner called Une Grande Nuit, in partnership with the Apollo Hotel, in September – and the £30,280 raised at that event has now taken Ark’s running total to over £2m.

Leading consultant liver cancer surgeon Merv Rees, an Ark Cancer Centre Charity trustee, thanked members of the Arkriders committee at a cheque presentation photocall to mark the success of the Une Grande Nuit event.

Mr Rees said: “The Arkriders contribution to Ark Cancer Centre Charity and the cancer treatment centre project has been awesome. Not only have the Arkriders raised a massive amount of money for Ark’s £5m appeal, but they have collectively had a far-reaching impact by considerably increasing awareness of the charity’s fundraising campaign and the reasons why the cancer treatment centre needs to be built.”

Mr Rees also updated the Arkriders committee members on the progress of the cancer treatment centre, which will largely be funded by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT).

Ark’s £5m appeal will ensure a range of support services and complementary therapies are available alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.

The Arkriders will be continuing their support for the charity and cancer treatment centre project into 2019, and another fundraising ride – the Arkriders 2019 Twin Towns Tour – will take place between July 17 and July 22.

The deadline for people to come on board is Saturday, 1 December. All the details can be found at: arkriders.co.uk/ride19.