THE memory of the late Darren Andrew spurred the Always With D team on to raise thousands for charity.

The cyclists presented Beaulieu House in Newport with a cheque for £5,194, and they have also raised £2,977.70 for Breathe Easy Isle of Wight, a support group for the respiratory department at St Mary’s Hospital.

They had cycled 700 miles from St Thomas’ Square in Newport to San Sebastian in Spain during August to raise the money.

The team rode in loving memory of their team member, Darren, who died in January 2018.

One of the team's previous rides with Darren was to Santander in Spain raising funds for Beaulieu House and Kissypuppy.

Tony Wake, chairman of Beaulieu Respite, said: “This is yet another fantastic fundraiser by these wonderful cyclists.

"Their last trip to Santander paid for a substantial part of the building of our on-site soft play area, The Fun Shack.

"This is enjoyed daily by our children and young people at Beaulieu House.

"It was also a rather moving moment during the cheque presentation when a mother came up to the cyclists and told them Beaulieu House is a lifeline to her and many other families on the Island and without fundraisers like them, she doesn’t know what would happen.”