Friends will be getting on their bikes for a coast-to-coast ride from Watchet to West Bay today (Sunday) with the aim of raising £5,000 for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

The group, made up of farmers, builders, sales, vets, a solicitor and a policeman, had planned to do the charity ride when Mary-Jayne Baker (née Bartlett) from Crowcombe was diagnosed with the disease.

Tragically Mary-Jayne died in February 2020 and Covid restrictions prevented any fundraising events but they can now go ahead with the 54-mile ride.

They said: “Training has been varied – Robyn Greenway, Katie Hawthorne and Deborah Cole are very disciplined; Rob Cole and James Hawthorne have ventured out via a pub! Rumour has that the builders, Simon Bolton and Arnie Priest, have been seen out on their bikes – but the whole group are determined to succeed.”

Mary-Jayne was a much loved and valued member of the farming/countryside community and is greatly missed.

Motor Neurone Disease kills six people every day in the UK – it leaves people unable to walk, talk or feed themselves and has no cure. MNDA provides care and support for people with motor neurone disease (MND) funding research into causes, treatments and a cure, and campaigns and raises awareness of MND.

Anyone who would like to donate can do so via Justgiving.com Coast to coast for Mary-Jayne or send cheques payable to ‘The Motor Neurone Disease Association’ to James Hawthorne, Pound Farm, Bishops Lydeard, Taunton TA4 3DN.