THE hospice serving Maldon, Burnham-on-Crouch and the Dengie has brought back Cycle for Life for 2021.

Registration is now open for the much-loved sponsored cycling challenge in aid of Farleigh Hospice - and this year it will take place on Sunday, 19 September.

The event, like many others across the country, was unable to take place in 2020 due to Covid-19, but the charity it will be bigger than ever. Featuring routes that make the most of the local scenery, Cycle for Life offers participants three routes with different distance options - 20, 50 or 100 km.

Cycle for Life is a sponsorship event and relies on riders raising as much money as possible to enable Farleigh Hospice to continue to care for people in mid- Essex affected by life-limiting illness and bereavement.

Karen Esponda, a cyclist on the 100km route when the event was last held in 2019, said: "It's a fantastic event. All the cyclists are friendly and it's a great route through the countryside.

"Farleigh means a lot to me. My dad spent his last few days there and the care was amazing. My mum went on to raise money for the hospice and it's great to ride in their memory."

Farleigh is offering a discounted early bird price with those who register before 13 September getting £10 off the entry fee.

The event is suitable for all age groups and abilities and anyone under 18 can take part for free, but must be accompanied by an adult.

Debbie de Boltz, fundraising manager at Farleigh Hospice said: "It's great to be able to hold Cycle for Life again.

"It has always been a hit among the local community and we're sure that it will be well attended again this year by both previous participants and new riders.

"Every penny raised by participants will go towards helping us provide vital care and support to the local community free of charge. If cycling isn't your thing but you'd still like to get involved, we are always grateful for volunteers to help on the day."

This year there is a new virtual option for those who would prefer to raise money and choose their own distance and route. The Cycle for Life Virtual Ride allows you to do the sponsored cycle your way and it costs just £10 to sign up.

For more information or to register for Cycle for Life you can visit the Farleigh Hospice website using the link here. To register for the Cycle for Life Virtual Ride visit the website using the link here.