Friends of a senior counsellor recently went the distance in a 60 mile bike ride from Manchester to Blackpool to raise money for St Ann’s Hospice.

Jemma Major covered the distance on Sunday, July 4 in in memory of her friend of 40 years Hazel Wilcock, from Summerseat.

Hazel, a close friend of Jemma’s mum, was tragically killed in a suspected gas explosion on February 17 this year while training for the journey.

Following her death, Jemma along with Hazel’s stepdaughter, Annmarie Botha-Jones and partner Tony Dewes, and other family friends, decided to undertake the ride in her honour and set up a justgiving page.

Friends and family that took part also included Jemma’s dad, Tim Major, Hazel’s friends Peter Henderson, Julie Christie-Endicott, and Louise Sowinski, Mark Stephenson, and John McChrystal.

Jemma said: “Hazel was a kind and caring person who was always there as a shoulder to cry on.

“After we finished the ride, I felt a wave of relief that it was over.

“There were several stops with punctured tyres but we kept going.

“When she died, it was heartbreaking to go through her belongings, so it was lovely to do something really positive about it that she would hopefully be proud of.

“Her death came as such a shock that it took us quite a while to come together, so we didn’t have too much time to prepare for the bike ride, but we managed it in the end.

“There a mix of people there, which illustrates how many people thought highly of her, from 70 year olds to seasoned cyclists.

“We’re hoping to raise enough to put a counselling room in the hospice in her honour.”

Tony added: “Hazel touched so many lives and she meant the world to me.

“We’ve both been through hard times, but the future was so bright.

To donate, visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jemma-major2