A HUGE crowd went to the Bencoolen Inn, Bude on June 9 for an evening of singing, drinking, socialising and a raffle, in aid of FORCE Cancer Charity.

The ‘Long Way Down’ crew of amateur cyclists from East Devon, who are undertaking John O’Groats to Lands End cycle, in aid of FORCE Cancer Charity.

Bude singers the Bencoolen Wreckers and Friggin’ Riggin’ met two of the cyclists — Matt Craker and Dave Selly, who sing with the Chantry Kingers — when the Wreckers joined up with Friggin’ Riggin’ to sing at Widecombe Fair.

After the Wreckers heard the team of cyclists were underaking the fundraising ride in aid of FORCE Cancer Charity — a charity that had supported Sophie Martin, a daughter of Bencoolen Wrecker singer Nigel Martin — they decided to hold a fundraising evening and welcome the cyclists, which took place last week.

Sophie Martin, who lives in Holsworthy, was admitted to North Devon District Hospital with a suspected ovarian cyst at the end of January, but was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer — a germ cell of the ovary.

She had an operation to remove the tumour at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, before chemotherapy at Exeter Hospital, where she was supported by the charity.

Sophie, who was recently given the all-clear, previously told the Post: “I can’t thank the team enough for making me and my family more comfortable during my treatment. It made a huge difference.

“I am passionate about giving something back to FORCE so that they can continue to support those affected by cancer in the local area.”

She described the fundraising evening at the Bencoolen Inn as a ‘huge success’, where the Bencoolen Wreckers presented her and The Long Way Down cyclists with cheques for £250 each.

There were 25 prizes in the raffle, which Sophie ran with the help of her fiancé, mother and brother. The raffle alone raised £1,230. The total amount raised between them on the evening was £1,730.

Sophie has also managed to raise £607.50 on Virgin Money Giving.

Sophie said: “The support was overwhelming. All of this money will be presented to FORCE Cancer Charity so that they can continue to do their fantastic work.”

For more information, visit Sophie’s fundraising page at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/sophiemartin88

To donate to the Long Way Down cycle team, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/longwaydown3