More than 28,000 cyclists will be heading for the Sussex coast this weekend for a charity’s biggest fundraising event of the year.

The annual British Heart Foundation (BHF) London to Brighton Bike Ride on Sunday is expected to raise around £3.3m.

Cyclists from across the country will be taking on the gruelling 54 mile course, with many from Sussex among those joining them.

One is Tom Chaplain, 14, from Worthing, cycling in memory of his dad Matthew, who died froma heart attack in April. Mr Chaplain, 38, was born with a hole in the heart and had successful surgery to repair it as a baby but was later found to have a heart muscle disease that put him at risk of sudden death.

Despite his long history of heart problems, his death came as a shock to his devastated family.

Tom will be with his two uncles, Martin and Paul Chaplain. Paul said: “We have already raised more than £4,500 with a charity football match in Matt’s memory.

“When Tom, Martin and I have completed the London to Brighton Bike Ride we hope to have raised £12,000. It has helped us immensely to be doing something positive.”

Success

Emma Luck, 32, from Uckfield, lost nearly half her body weight after getting support from a colleague from Wealden District Council, who was also a nutritionist and personal trainer.

Ms Luck's weight ballooned from ten stone to 20 stone 12lbs after she suffered a brain haemorrhage in 2008 and became depressed. She has since lost eight-and-a-half stone using the charity’s weight-loss programme and now wants to take on the bike challenge to celebrate her success.

Dexter Penalba, 39, from Peacehaven, is taking part in all three of the charity's London to Brighton Bike Rides this year, meaning he will be cycling close to 190 miles. As a theatre nurse for cardiac surgery at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton, he is passionate about helping the charity.

He also has a personal reason for taking part as his grandfather is celebrating his 98th birthday in July after having a pacemaker fitted 20 years ago.

Drivers are warned they face disruption in the city throughout the day.

Bikes will not be allowed on Southern trains across most of Sussex throughout the day.

Sunday's event is one of three London to Brighton bike rides organised by the charity for this year.

More details can be found at bhf.org.uk/l2bnight.

 

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