A GROUP of friends have raised a mind-blowing amount for a cause close to their hearts.

A team of twenty have completed an incredible charity bike-ride from London to Mold – a distance of 220 miles cycled over three days.

The mammoth task isn’t without its reason – as organiser Mitchell James explains the legacy of his cousin Paul Hopkins.

Writing on their fundraising page, he says: “Despite the many challenges he faced, Paul was an inspirational young man who had an uncompromising positive outlook.

“He was kind and his instantly infectious personality is one of the many reasons he was loved by so many. It is in his memory that we continue to raise as much money as possible for the British Heart Foundation.

“Paul was born with a heart condition but he didn’t let it hold him back, living his life to the absolute fullest and the British Heart Foundation was an obvious choice when I decided to start fundraising in his name 10 years ago.

“I’ve no doubt he would be proud to have money raised to fund research into cures and treatments of a disease which had such a big impact on his life.”

The fundraising mission started just over a decade ago as a simple rugby five-a-side – and has grown to raised thousands of pounds over the years for the charity.

This time around, the challenge was launched as the team travelled from the gates of Queen Elizabeth’s home of Buckingham Palace for a modest 70 miles to Oxfordshire.

They went on another 90 miles the following day to Stafford before the final 60-mile stretch saw them arrive at Mold Rugby Club after three gruelling days in the saddle on Saturday, July 24.

The 31-year-old continued: “Alongside this annual tournament and to kick-start the fundraising campaign a group of twenty riders are undertaking a charity bike-ride from London to Mold – a distance of 220 miles cycled over 3 days which between all of the riders will mean a covered distance of over 4000 miles!

“The British Heart Foundation have been fundraising for 60 years and have helped fund breakthroughs like heart transplants, pacemakers, stents and clot-busting drugs and they’ve got ambitious plans for the next 60 years too.

“Cures for inherited heart diseases, radically improved treatments for strokes, ways to stop vascular dementia in its tracks and of course, recovering from the brutal blow that is the Covid-19 pandemic are all part of their future goals so your support is more vital than ever before.

“Through the annual Hi5s tournament, we’ve already raised thousands for the BHF and we want this year to be the biggest ever.

“That’s why we’re really challenging ourselves with this ride. Some of us are experienced cyclists, some amateur riders and some complete novices.

"Knowing we’re going to achieve our £10,000 target will give each of the riders a real boost on what is likely to be a very tough personal challenge."

Adam Fletcher, head of BHF Cymru, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has taken part or supported this amazing event in memory of Paul Hopkins and all the fundraising they have organised for the BHF over the last decade.

“Our research to help save and improve lives is only made possible thanks to our inspirational supporters like them.

"We need the public’s support now more than ever as the BHF reaches its 60th anniversary this week.

“Hoppo’s Hi 5s took on a monumental fundraising event, cycling an impressive distance of 220 miles each over three days, during incredibly challenging heat last week.

“We want to thank each and every one of them for fundraising for us, and everyone who’s contributed to their fantastic total of over £20,000, in our 60th year.

"They’re all helping us beat heartbreak forever.”

If you are able to, please consider leaving a donation for the cause by going to https://www.justgiving.com/team/hi5s.