A group of saddle-sore bike riders who completed a 92-mile ride hope to have raised more than £2,000 for Walsall Hospice.

The 16 riders - ten men and six women - took it in turns to ride a tandem as part of the challenge.

Organised by Graham Cornfield, director of newly-founded Walsall-based in-Tandem Management Solutions Ltd, the Mother's Day challenge was done in conjunction with Midland business networking organisation Gone Fishing 4 Business, and Breathing Space, the Walsall start-up hub.

Setting off from Breathing Space at 8.30am on Mother's Day (April 4, 2011) , the cyclists, aged between 21 and 75, rode to the recently-opened Walsall Hospice site in Goscote Lane, Goscote, before riding to Cannock, Derby and Branston. They then rode back to Breathing Space in Walsall, via the hospice. The last riders, who used the final leg to cycle on the tandem, returned at 7pm.

"It was hard work and the weather threw everything at us: sunshine, cloud, rain, thunder, hail and wind," says Graham, of Harden Road, Leamore.

"I am delighted that everyone enjoyed the day so much, and to see them standing in front of this new treasure in our community made me proud to have been a part of it"

"We haven't added up how much we have raised yet, but believe it will be more than £2,000, which is absolutely fantastic."

Graham also thanked Fishing 4 Business venues, Bar Sport in Cannock, Branston Golf & Country Club, Mackworth Hotel, Mackworth, Derbyshire, for generously providing refreshments for the tired riders en-route.

Cheryl Bradburne, head of fundraising at Walsall Hospice, who also took part in the challenge, said: "I would like to send a huge thank you to i-tms, the riders and all those who have helped to organise the ride for their support.

"I shed a tear when we arrived at the hospice, suddenly it was real - everything we have worked so hard for was there before us." 

Walsall Hospice which opened on April 11, 2011 provides high-quality care for people living with cancer and other serious illnesses in Walsall.

The annual running costs of the Hospice will be £1.6 million. Only half this amount will be funded by the NHS in the first year, which means it has to raise £800,000 a year in the community for this care facility.