SUZANNE Richards, 1610 sports development manager, will climb on to her spinning bike for a gruelling four-hour session to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation on Saturday.

And she is doing it in gratitude for the part the charity played in her husband Darren’s recovery from a serious heart condition.

Three years ago, Darren was suddenly taken ill with flu-like symptoms and experienced feelings of numbness in his fingers and toes. Tests at A&E revealed that his heart was not pumping blood properly and that he needed a replacement valve.

Following an operation to fit a metal valve, Darren spent two months in hospital and then signed up for the 1610 Wellness Works programme to help aid his recovery.

Darren and their children Alice and Jack who will be part of a relay team at the spin event – and others are welcome to join them from 9am to 1pm at the West Somerset Sports and Leisure Centre in Minehead. It costs £10 per bike, and people can enter as teams of four. Sponsorship forms are available.

The British Heart Foundation is the new 1610 Charity of the Year and the leisure trust is aiming to raise £20,000 for it through a series of sponsored fundraising events.