A father-of-two from Melksham will be getting in the saddle when he cycles 90 miles in his wife’s memory for the hospice which helped care for her.

Mark Cleverley, of Bowerhill, will be riding from Bath to Brecon in mid Wales on Saturday, June 20 as he marks what would have been his wife Mandy’s birthday two days later on June 22.

Mr Cleverley, 41, a former self-employed courier, who gave up his job to look after his children when his wife died from tumours in her brain on June 28, 2007, said he was looking forward to the challenge which will raise funds for the Dorothy House Hospice in Winsley.

His wife had received care and treatment at the hospice before her death and Mr Cleverley now volunteers there once a week.

He said: “Dorothy House are absolutely fantastic and I can’t fault them at all. I now volunteer in the day patient unit after my wife received a lot of care from the hospice through various treatments and the administration of drugs when she was very poorly.

“She would go in there for treatments like reflexology, acupuncture and massages and they also visited us at home.

“Everyone helps out and works together there. Now I am an insider as it were, I can see how they work.

“It’s the sort of place were you see a doctor going to make cups of tea for everyone; everyone helps out.

“I know people say the work places like that do is amazing, but it really is.”

Mr Cleverley, who is father to Laura, 14, and Daniel, 12, will be taking part in the cycle ride along with 16 others after it was organised by Dorothy House specialist nurse, Wayne De Leeuw and his brother-in-law Miles Peyton.

Although the ride is 90 miles, Mr Cleverley said he is well accustomed to cycling and used to race mountain bikes in his 20s.

He said: “I didn’t ride for about 10 years because I had family responsibilities and work, but I started again about four or five months after Mandy died.

“I would go out on long rides just to help with the frustrations of life.”

His rides take him across the county, including Salisbury Plain, and he has been going out for around 30 or 40 miles several times a week.

People can still take part in the ride for the hospice and can call 01373 471064 or email rideyourbike@easy.com for details.

Mr Cleverley is also appealing for people to sponsor him by calling him on 01225 706785 or 07917 873202 or visiting www.justgiving.com/markcleverley