A team of cyclists from engineering consultancy have raised thousands for Naomi House and Jacksplace BMT raised £3,000 for the hospices, which offer respite and end of life care for children and young adults across central southern England.

The charity is very close to the hearts of several BMT members of staff whose families have had to use their facilities in recent years.

To raise the money,12 cyclists set off from BMT’s head office in Teddington to cycle to Naomi House in Winchester, followed by a further cycle to BMT’s Fareham office. - a total distance of about 100 miles.

As part of the day-long event, Terry Hawkes, senior consultant at BMT Reliability Consultants, who has a family friend staying at Jacksplace, had his 40-year old beard shaved off to raise additional money.

Sarah Hudson of the Naomi House fundraising team said: “The lengths BMT are going to in support of our hospices are truly staggering and we simply cannot thank them enough.

"Whether they are taking on gruelling physical challenges or saying farewell to a 40 year old beard, we can rely on BMT to surprise and delight everybody here at Naomi House & Jacksplace.”