AN EIGHT-STRONG team of fundraisers from an IT service serving a number of Gwent-based institutions have completed a 100km bike ride around the region for two charities.

Seven members of staff from Shared Resource Service (SRS) were joined by the leader of Torfaen council, Cllr Anthony Hunt, in their bid to raise money for Velindre Cancer Centre and Headway – The Brain Injury Association.

The riders set off from the offices in Blaenavon on Friday morning before stops at the Blaenau Gwent, Monmouthshire, Newport and Torfaen civic centres as well as Gwent Police’s headquarters - all of whom use the data service.

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Matt Lewis, the chief operating officer of the SRS, said “Eight people from the SRS are attempting a 100km ride in aid of Headway and Velindre.

“It is a fantastic challenge and I admire each and every one of them.

“Starting at Blaenavon and taking all our key partner sites in along the way, this is the first charity ride which we will turn into an annual event.

“Both charities have been incredibly supportive to our staff during very difficult times and I am very proud of everyone at the SRS for supporting these wonderful charities.”

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The group cycled to raise awareness of SRS staff member Wendy Eburne who suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2013, undergoing a life-saving operation at the University Hospital Wales (UHW).

She has spent the last three years recovering from the life changing incident, slowly regaining her mobility and coordination alongside dealing with limitations from the brain injury - chronic fatigue and short term memory – and took part in Friday’s ride.

Post ride, Mr Lewis added: “The SRS is not about computers, tin and wire or software. It's about people and eight SRS people did something very special.

“With one member of staff on the ride having been supported by Headway and another member of staff having started treatment this week in Velindre there has never been a more important time for us to come together to help change people's lives.“

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Cllr Hunt said: “It’s been a really good day riding out with everyone from the SRS – we had fun.

“We managed not to get rained on too much and we’ve raised some money for Velindre and Headway along the way.

“It’s been really good, it’s been nice to meet everyone and to have a good time and to get some miles under our belt too.”

The final total will be announced on Monday, and money raised from the bike ride will be split equally between the two charities.

Next month, Ms Eburne will be taking part in a charity ride for Headway by completing a 420km cycle in Cambodia and Vietnam and to donate, visit justgiving.com/fundraising/Wendy-Eburne.