A TWIN and supporters who cycle in memory of his Monmouthshire brother and in aid of St David's Hospice Care has collectively smashed their target of £100,000.

Former Scots Guard, Major Sam Orwin, is part of a team of some 25 cyclists who are raising money for the Newport-based hospice as well as Great Ormond Street Hospital and the MS Society.

The cyclists surpassed their fund raising target of £100,000 when they raised more than £16,000 last weekend on a ride from Long Crendon near Oxford, to the Isle of Wight.

Major Orwin said: "In 2016 my twin brother, Jeremy, also an ex Major in the Scots Guards was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. Jeremy, who lived at Llanwenarth Citra, near Abergavenny, received palliative care from the amazing team at St David’s Hospice Care throughout his courageous battle with the disease."

Major Orwin, partner and head of new build at leading property firm Cushman & Wakefield, said: "We completed our ride on Saturday afternoon at the Needles on the Isle of Wight and drove home after a lovely post ride dinner on the island.

"We have raised more than £16,000 so far but expect that total to rise with a few thousand more to come in before the funding page is closed. I am absolutely delighted to have achieved this amazing milestone and suddenly £100,000 raised for those rely most on the care, help and support these charities gives begins to feel like a meaningful amount.

"We are already planning to get back on track for the next Spanish leg of the charity circumnavigation of Europe in 2022 (Covid permitting) and June 14 is the departure date we have scheduled. This will be picking up from where we left off in 2019 (pre-Pandemic) near Bilbao to cycle the 360 miles to Santiago de Compostela."

Tania Ansell, of St David's Hospice Care, said: "It is an amazing achievement by Sam and his cycling colleagues. We really can't thank them enough for the money they have raised to help us in the work that we do throughout the community."

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