A charity bike ride has raised over £1 million for the British Heart Foundation.
The London to Brighton bike ride yesterday involved over 12,000 people cycling from Clapham Common to Brighton seafront.
The money raised will help the charity fund research into new treatments for heart and circulatory diseases.
Roisin Atkinson, British Heart Foundation (BHF) senior events manager, said: “It was fantastic to see the passion and determination of our riders on Sunday.
“Without the commitment of our cyclists, we wouldn’t be able to fund research that has already broken new ground, revolutionised treatments and transformed the lives of millions of people in the UK.
“The stories of why our amazing supporters take part in our London to Brighton bike ride never fail to impress us. This event is one of the highlights in our events calendar and has been running for almost half a century.”
Retired British Olympic gymnast Ellie Downie also took part in this year’s event in memory of her brother, who died of a sudden cardiac arrest in 2021.
Miss Downie said: “The harrowing experience of losing Josh affected our family immensely, and I want to do what I can to stop other families from going through the same. Taking part in the London to Brighton bike ride has been part of this.
“Every week in the UK, at least 12 young people under 35 die from an undiagnosed heart condition. Seeing just how quickly someone you love can be taken away is a stark reminder of how precious our time in this world is.
“My brother Josh’s life was just beginning. I wanted to help the millions of other people and families affected by heart conditions by doing my bit for the BHF.”
The cycle route was 54 miles and took riders through South London, the Surrey and Sussex countryside and Burgess Hill.
The BHF’s bike rides have raised over £50 million for the charity over the last 47 years.
